By Mubanga Mubanga
Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti has suspended 17 PF members of Parliament including motion movers for her impeachment Binwell Mpundu and Mutotwe Kafwaya.
Others suspended include leader of the opposition Brian Mundubile and opposition chief whip Stephen Kampyongo.
She said the members of Parliament would not participate in any parliamentary business and would not receive salaries during their period of suspension .
The suspended members of Parliament have also been forbidden from visiting Parliament Motel.
PF deputy secretary Nickson Chilangwa says the decision to suspend 17 Members of Parliament is meant to instil fear and divide them in different camps.
Addressing the media, Chilangwa said what has happened is sad.
“What has happened today is sad. This is how our democracy and our right to debate and represent you our people is being decimated,” Chilangwa said.
He said even though he is not among those suspended, not he cannot sit in the House when his colleagues had been treated in the fashion that they had been treated.
Chilangwa appealed to all party members to stand up and defend democracy.
He said democracy will not be defended by members of parliament alone but the electorates who elected them to represent them.
“Basically this action today is meant to instil fear into members of Parliament. It is meant to divide members of Parliament in different camps but I stand on the right side of judgment. On the right side of history, on the right side of the argument. I am appealing to all those members of Parliament who call themselves PF in the House, you need to stand on the right side of history. It will not do for you to be chancers. Mind you Zambians are watching,” he said
And Shiwag’andu Member of Parliament Stephen Kampyongo said PF will take the necessary action to ensure illegalities being perpetrated by the National Assembly are dealt with by institutions responsible, especially the judiciary.
