By Isaac Zulu
Whip of opposition in Parliament Stephen Kampyongo has urged Vice President Mutale Nalumango to explain the criteria used to confer awards on some African former Heads of State during the African Union Mid Year Coordination meeting.
And Kampyongo has urged National Assembly to attend to the parliamentarians’ “outstanding in house issues” before Parliament adjourns sine die.
Contributing to the motion to suspend business of the House in Parliament on Friday, Kampyongo explained that the Vice President sits on the committee that is mandated to identify recipients of investiture ceremony awards, therefore she is in the right position to tell the nation what criteria the government used to arrive at the recipients of the said awards.
“Before Parliament adjourns, Madam Speaker, we would like her Honour the Vice President to the nation how government identified the former African Heads of State that received awards during the just ended African Union coordination meeting. We also expect her Honour the Vice President to update the nation on the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise. We would also want to be informed about our outstanding in house issues before Parliament adjourns,” said Kampyongo.
The PF Shiwang’andu member of parliament also wanted the Executive to ensure that parliamentarians will not face any intimation when they carry out their duties in their respective constituencies.
“What gaurantee do we have that, as we go back to our constituencies, that members of parliament will not be intimidated or disrupted as they conduct their duties in their respective constituencies? I am saying this because of what happened a few days ago in Bwacha constituency, where suspected UPND cadres disrupted our colleague who was making some donations in his constituency,” said Kampyongo.
In response minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Jack Mwiimbu assured parliamentarians that no one will be allowed to disrupt them from interacting with their constituents when they go back to their respective constituencies.
“I can assure the Honourable members of parliament that they will be able to interact with the people in their constituencies without intimidation, unlike was the case during the PF regime. During the PF government we were not allowed to step foot in Kabushi constituency. The UPND government is committed to upholding the rule of law. Every citizen will enjoy the freedom of assembly and association,” said Mwiimbu.
And PF Chitambo member of parliament Chanda Mutale wanted government to tell parliamentarians when central government will release the remaining balance of the Constituency Development Fund 2022 allocation, considering that so far only K6.3 million has been disbursed out of the K25.7 million.
Minister of Local Government and Housing Garry Nkombo urged his fellow parliamentarians to go back to their respective constituencies and explain the challenges being faced in the administration of the Constituency Development Fund.
He said that the UPND government is committed to ensuring that all constituencies in the country receive the remaining allocation of Constituency Development Fund before the end of the year.
“Go back home (to the constituencies). Like the minister of Home Affairs has said no one will harm you. This is a government of laws, and we are not going to abuse the Public Order Act like it used to happen in the previous regime,” said Nkombo. “Go back to your constituencies and explain the challenges, the bottlenecks being faced in the administration of the Constituency Development Fund, not forgetting the impact of CDF projects.”
And acting leader of government business in the House Ambrose Lufuma said that the UPND government has managed to restore the rule of law.
He said that Zambians are now enjoying peace, saying the UPND administration has created an enabling environment for investment.
“As you know, peace is a prerequisite for economic development. We have restored investor confidence,” said Lufuma, who is also Minister of Defence.
