By SIMON MUNTEMBA
MUCH as we know that she was sponsored by UPND, as Speaker of National Assembly, Ms Nelly Mutti should detach herself from the ruling party to avoid her degenerating the House into a partisan platform, a member of the PF Central Committee Raphael Nakacinda has cautioned.
Mr Nakacinda said Ms Mutti’s emotional attitude towards PF members in Parliament was worrying.
He said in an interview yesterday that the Speaker was too emotional, and that her conduct was a recipe for turning the house upside down.
“I will repeat what I posted on my Facebook page, she should quickly retire her membership from UPND, to avoid herself becoming a subject of politics outside the House as that has the potential to generate dissent against her as a person, which will make it difficult for her to execute her duties freely and avoid degenerating the House into a partisan platform,” Mr Nakacinda said.
Mr Nakacinda claimed that Ms Mutti misconducted herself in the manner she treated Kabushi Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo last week.
Being one of the very few senior lawyers, he said, that even qualifies to occupy the office of a judge, our expectations were extremely high in the manner with which she would discharge her duties at parliament, it has become more apparent that she lacks the impartiality that is critical for her to earn the much needed respect and credibility from both sides of the aisle in the House.
Mr Nakacinda said just like other MPs, Mr Lusambo was not serving at the whim and wish of anybody but at the mercy of the people who elected them.
“So she must regard every voice as that which represents thousands. At least that’ is how our democracy is structured, so she doesn’t need to like any of the MPs personally, she is not there to like anyone,” he said.
Mr Nakacinda said it was the PF’s wish that Ms Mutti succeeded as the first female Speaker but she should, like her predecessors, rise above partisanship stance.
Last week, the Speaker chased Mr Lusambo from Parliament for walking out as she made a ruling.
