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MMD walk out of Parliament after the Speaker stopped an MMD MP from criticising the President’s Speech

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The Law makers

Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) Members of Parliament (MPs), led by their party Vice President for Politics Michael Kaingu, yesterday walked out of Parliament alleging that they are being restricted to debate.

This prompted Speaker Patrick Matibini to adjourn business of the day as only United Party for National Development (UPND) and Patriotic Front (PF) front and backbenchers remained.

This was after Kasempa MP Kabinga Pande stood to debate President Michael Sata’s Parliament opening speech but started by expressing his disappointment on the speech.

Dr Matibini, who earlier guided the members to debate the speech substantively, stopped Mr Pande to continue with his debate and advised him to follow the guidance.

[pullquote]“They used to call our speeches as hollow but we all debated freely. Something has gone wrong because even our colleagues the UPND are being denied permits to hold rallies,” Mr Kaingu said.[/pullquote]

Mr Pande then sat down and before Dr Matibini could speak Mr Kaingu and other MMD MPs stood up and walked out of the House amid cheers from PF members, ministers and some UPND MPs.

Mr Kaingu and his MPs proceeded outside the building where they convened a caucus meeting while their UPND counterparts remained inside the House as the debates briefly continued before adjournment.

Speaking to journalists shortly after holding the meeting, Mr Kaingu alleged that his party members were being restricted in debating and could not express themselves freely in the House.

“This has been the darkest week in the House. Where is democracy, because we are being restricted to debate freely and this never used to happen to the PF MPs when they were in the opposition.

“They used to call our speeches as hollow but we all debated freely. Something has gone wrong because even our colleagues the UPND are being denied permits to hold rallies,” Mr Kaingu said.

[pullquote]He implored the members to focus on substantive issues contained in the Presidents’ written speech and the verbatim recording and should not be digressed by anecdotes the President made which were meant to provide light moments.[/pullquote]

He however, said all MMD MPs would attend today’s Parliamentary sessions but would give a comprehensive statement on the way forward.

Earlier, Dr Matibini in his speech to guide members in debating President Sata’s speech said the Head of State followed all Parliamentary procedures of handing over his speech and laying it on the table of the House.

“Subsequently, the speech was distributed to the stakeholders including all MPs. Thus, contrary to assertions made by some Honourable Members of this House yesterday,  the Presidential speech was in fact officially tabled in the House,” Dr Matibini said.

He implored the members to focus on substantive issues contained in the Presidents’ written speech and the verbatim recording and should not be digressed by anecdotes the President made which were meant to provide light moments.

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

93 COMMENTS

  3. Tyranny of the majority or mob rule is what the PF is doing in parliament led by a partisan speaker.Dr Mabitini should protect free speech even when its not pleasing to his thinly veiled partisan agenda.Tell Mabitini that Sata is no diety that he can’t be criticized and whatever garbage he spills out cannot always be treated as sacrosanct.

  4. Ba MMD should learn to debate substantively, being in opposition does not mean opposing and criticizing everything that the ruling party is doing. Both MMD and UPND should just accept defeat and then move on.

    • Yeah,like the stupid PF does reacting and criticizing every little thing HH or Nevers Mumba speak on in terms of PF misgovernance and lies.Accepting defeat does not mean following blindly while being led to a pit.

  5. UPND should have also walked out. This shows lack of leadership on the part of UPND. This is a serious national issue and not only MMD should fight it. The speaker should be left with no quorum. MMD has stood with HH when he was being harassed by Police. Come on Wake up

  6. ma-light moments ya vuta. Let Ukwa not hide his vulgar language behind “light moments”. He should behave like a statesman & treat that office with the respect it deserves. State house should hire a coach to teach this man & his wife on how to behave like a statesman otherwise we are doomed. Its such people who fail to tame their tongues who will end up dragging our country to war between ourselves or even a neighbouring country.

  7. This is very childish of MMD. Even UPND who have voed to make Zambia ungovernable stayed in the house. First tearing the speech. Childish and foolish. And you want to call Sata a dictator. Would you get away with this nonsense of Sata was a dictator? Morons.

  8. Mr Kaingu is the revolution in MMD. We are tired of taking PF RUBBISH.
    No rallies, no free debating, useles speeches, police brutality, tribalism…this country is being reduced 2 Sata’s bedroom & people are supporting it! Think before you’re called ‘FOOLS’ jst like Your President!

    • I think leaders a converted into dictators by there on people,listening to you blog busy refering to the head of state as a fool ususally invites intolerance.You can only be tolerant for so long and then flex the power vested in you has head of state and goverment,because there is no clause in our constitution that supports this type of freedom of speech.please advise me,mr man!are you bitter with this man because of certain deals you pre-arranged before he become president that have been affected,if that is the case take it easy because that doesnt mark the end of your positive achievements.
      Oppotunties are in abundance,and what is your is yours.

  9. Iwe ili mbushi, MMD and UPND know that they are in opposition. But being ion opposition does not mean they should keep quiet, when MMD was in power PF never appreciated any speech especially from Levy. Mr. Sata and his MPs always opposed Levy’s speeches, and he was not harassed. Let the people express themselves. Why did he leave the speech on the table to be discussed if he does not want people to talk about it? Bu shilu fye ba PF mwe.

  11. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE MMD AND UPND TO ACCEPT DEFEAT, SETTLE DOWN AND BEGIN TO CONTRIBUTE TO ECONOMIC GROWTH POSITIVELY. 

  12. Defeat is accepted, but what we want is freedom of expression and speech we can not afford to take the venom from the cobra lest this country dies. We are the people, we are the Zambia not PF, why should they dictate? 2016 is very near, na MMD yawamapo.

  13. MMD should not behave like little children. They should just debate the speech. If they feel the speech was not worth the paper it was printed on they had the opportunity to punch holes in it by dissecting its contents in a mature and professional manner. Perhaps PF would learn from them and take care in future to be serious when handling matters of national importance. But tearing the speech, walking out of the house demonstrates lack of respect and it’s an improper approach for a party that is trying to reorganise itself to become a formidable opposition. In case they don’t know MMD must work harder to shed off the bad image people have of them, that of plunderers, mobsters, greedy and uncaring.

    • The speaker stopped Kabinga Pande continuing with his debate of the speech.Whats your take on that.Fair or unfair approach? Is it a must that everyone should be in support of the speech even when it leavesout critical issues? Did the speech contain policy statements to provide guidance in the formulation 2013 budgets? Did it address key issues affecting the zambian economy and its social sectors? Could it be that it does not deal with these issues hence MMD MPs insisting on the speech being hollow? Lets not paint MMD MPs black yet.

  15. The speaker is to blame for the MMD walkout from the House, Mr Mpande wanted to express the shortfalls of The President’s speech in strong terms but before who make a point he interjected, WHY? Criticism is the backbone of Democracy. The speaker must stop this rot and seek advice from Amusa mwanamwambwa who allowed free debate in the house not this nosnse. PF need criticism to perform better. ALLOW FREE DEBATE AND REGULATE PARLIAMENTARY ETHICS

  16. Where has it happened that the presidential speech is shredded in the face of parliament? MMD had better apologize for that stupid move by their cadre Shi Iris.

  21. Matibini dont be a dictator, dont be like Sata, let the MPs speak freely. That speech needs to be debated, it was very useless, parliament is a place for serious business and not light moments. Comed uko kwine !

  22. What freedom do you need when you can tear the President’s speech and walk out of Parliament freely? Don’t fool us, you enjoy that house.

  24. The opposition has noticed that Sata is taking Zambia to better and higher levels. First Sata has restored dignity to Zambians. We are now respected by foreigners because thy now know that this is our country. Secondly, the opposition have seen that no matter what happens all programs which PF has started to implement such as construction of new and Major roads will succeed. Thirdly they also heard that workers in health institutions are very happy with PF because of improved salaries and working conditions. Fourth, MMD has also noticed that this man they where calling Kaponya is now being appreciated by international bodies such as the UN. lastly MMD has realised that people are behind Sata’s policies such cancelling of RSZ concession and recapitalization of NCZ……………………

  27. MMD is also amazed to see PF stabilizing the economy and continuing from where they left without any problem.The opposition has noticed that SATA’s story will be a BIG success contrary to their expectations that PF will fail to run the country because they are not educated. So they want to find a way of creating anarchy in our beautiful country. My advise to Sata and PF is that dont be WEAK in the name of defending democracy. You are in GVT and the Peace of this country is in your hands. We are an African country. In Africa we exist by respecting each other. If someone want to fight you, Fight back with the same measure. then we see who is in control.

  28. mr.kaingu if u cant bring order in your own house do you think u can bring order in paliament by disrepecting the presdents spech?

  29. SO YOU WANT UPND TO BACK MMD IN MUFUMBWE    ???]
    HOWEVER I KNOW HOW TO TOIL A STRAIGHT LINE LIKE KAINGU .
     THE MAN IS PERFORMING WHAT I CALL PRINCIPLE EFFECTED EFFECTIVE .

  30. This Dr. Matibini is surely a dictator of a kind. He has a one track mind. A speaker must be somebody who is broad-minded and has capacity to accept divergent views. As for this speaker, MPs must say things that are pleasing to his ears, or else they risk being reprimanded. The opposition note that, that never used to be the case and that something has gone wrong and further that: “…This has been the darkest week in the House.” Is this the real Dr. Matibini or just another animal?

  31. I think there is too much freedom in Zambia. I think if Sata was a Dictator, people who openly insulted him whilst he was opposition leader like Peter Daka,Rev Shikapwasha,Mulongoti,Joe Kalusa,Chanda Chiimba,Lifwekelo,Mumbi and many others would be political prisoners by now!. But, look, he has allowed them to stay on and some of them even have the freedom to insult him by tearing his speach. I read Sata’s speach and I think its okey but those who just heard what he was saying will definately conclude that it was horrow. We are in a Democracy, we can say what can be said but there should be a little respect towards each other.

    • How many times did Sata insult Levi and Banda was he jailed? Fir your own information what Sata said in Parliament was not what was in the written speech 

  35. I want to support the Speaker for action taken. There is a need to Respect the Republican President even our words. Whether we like it or not he is our president and what was in the speech are the issues that the government saw as relevant. They came into power with a manifesto which guides them as a party and they have a way they will achieve the promises made to the people of Zambia. Let’s not always take it that what we consider to be important is what is important to everyone so it is important for us to respect the president’s speech and the issues tabled if we want our views to be taken seriously. We need to let go politics that targets individuals instead let’s debate issues contained in the speech and provide an alternative through debating issues. Don’t blame the speaker.

  36. I WONDER IF AFRICA WILL EVER DEVELOP WITH THIS KIND OF ATTITUDE…WE need leaders with an open mind: leaders who can be criticised at any given moment; the criticism should not also be based on which and whose party i belong to…sometimes its good to follow advice;pride will never build a strong village.

  37. MMD Chief Bootlicker where are you? I miss your positive contributions. Not these bloggers who just write “Vintu vilibe kumutu.” Lets contribute positively. Even when you are seeing things going wrong, you still want to criticize wrongly.

  39. FEEL FREE OUR HONOURABLES AND DEBATE ISSUES NEVER GIVE UP WE NEED A PROPER OPPOSITION, PF IN OPPOSITION MADE DIFFICULT FOR, YOU SHARPEN YOUR ARSENALS TO THE FULLEST GO, GO, GO OPPOSITION WE ARE BEHIND YOU TO THE FULLEST.BALANCE THE SITUATION MR MATIBINI WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT.

  41. UPND and MMD are just bitter and jealous of our party in government the might PF , I think MMD are still bitter that we kicked them out.  We have made a plan after 2016 given lubinda up 2030 then may be HH and I have just said maybe

    • Lubinda will not govern Zambia, not even in your wildest dream. Where will be the bemba clan. If you have read the politics is PF you will know that GBM is trying to second in line after his uncle

  42. Follow the layed down procedures for the house.You want to be as if you are the ones in power?kaingu,if you can behave like that,wat of your children?I pity you BIG man!

  43. I have always been suspicious of this unprincipled, jobseeker so called speaker Dr Matibini. Within the confines of parliament MPs are constitutionally privileged to express themselves in discharging their opposition duties. That includes poking fun of the president or any MP, we have seen it before and it should carry on.PF MPs once chanted Bokosi, Bokosi.. to Dora Siliya. That’s even more serious as it can be perceived as sexual harassment in some sense. But it was light hearted humour in the confines of parliament. 

  44. Plz lekeni shikulu ateke imwe fyonse fibi! Awe twapapata muli bafyashi ba Kaingu ala ishita yenu yikesaa .WE LOVE BATATA BASATA LEKENI BALESABAILA ABO!!

  45. I totally applaud the move by the opposition VP which should send a message to  Matibini that he must be above party politics to be seen fair. Nothing can be accomplished in parliament without the main opposition. Lets remind our themselves, there is nowhere in Zambia today to freely discuss politics without fear of arrest. People have been jailed for talking about Sata over a drink, opposition supporters cannot demonstrate without police brutality, opposition leaders cannot hold rallies without interference. And the only place where politics must be discussed without fear is now under siege by the Speaker. This is the darkest hour in Zambian politics. I would have loved UPND to follow MMD.

    • You obviously think UPND are as hopeless as MMD. What MMD are doing is wrong! Why can’t they follow simple laid down procedures? 

    • You are a liar man. Where are people being arrested for talking politics? Lair of liars. Dont you listen to radios how  you insult?? Who has arrested you? Lair of untamed liars…Shaaaa.

  46. So these MMD thieves want to behave in any way they want like what Kaingu did? They dont want to follow laid down PROCEDURES? I think MMD is finished, MMD has fallen guys. I think Mulongoti shold go back to MMD so that he gives theM advice. The guys have lost direction just one year in opposition , what more when they will clock 2 years, some will die of ICHIKONKO. 

  47. Dr Matibini had laid down guidelines on how to debate the President’s speech. So what was so difficult for MMD MP’s to follow the laid down guidelines? I suspect they had met earlier and agreed on what they would do hoping UPND would follow suit, but alas were disappointed. How much did MMD cost the nation yesterday by walking out and causing Parliament to be adjourned?    

  50. Now even stinking pit latrine anecdotes by Ukwa Zondwe, in the House, are being classified as light moments. God knows where this country is heading to.

  51. Why stop the debate? There could very have been some nuggets to pick up from contributions by the members of parliament. the speaker must appreciate that opposition will more often than usual offer constructive criticism. parliament should a forum for cross pollination of ideas. The president does not have a monopoly of intelligence in leading the nation. he can learn from others. The speaker is stifling the “checks and balances that the opposition is supposed to provide in the house. In this regard he has failed the house.

  52. MMD, please debate the speech and stop behaving like pre-school children. That will not get you back in power before the end of the mandate which the people of Zambia gave to PF. Just do what you are in the House for and stop holding us Zambians to ransom by you childish behaviour!

  53. For 20 years MMD did all they could; in the last 3 years, we become so annoyed but kept hoping for change. To be honest, I wish Sata was even more dictatorial to sort out Zambia. Stupidity like this cannot be allowed to continue. Debate, but within the rules!! Fakayo tu MMD!! Ba kabwa imwe!!

  54. MMD is completely finished under the leadership of the former fake pastor. As for the kaingu ***** just wait for 24th october which will be the day of reckoning for your bitch daughter. Iris ba momanga and you might just be the next one bustered. Don’t behave childish like a kid you *****! You are old enough to be a grand father.

  55. This ‘Dr’ Matibini is he really an academic or it is just a mere title which he assumed as a normal African role given to him as a political appointee? If this chap was really an academic from a recognised university, he would uphold what he learnt at varsity both at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. To me he fails redefine his role in mediation of matters which are susceptible to criticisms and emotions. A doctor in any discipline has the ability to understand the application of being critical, independent and constructive in any argument. An argument whose premises are prescribed by any party never yields any conclusion. A valid argument has plausible premises which are not influenced by any part and it follows that it will have a conclusion which benefits the audience. Viva HH

  56. This ‘Dr.’ Matibini fellow, he may be has problems in balancing the essence of arguments in an auditorium such as a parliament. Notice that, following from limitations which he imposed on comrades from MMD, arguments are not shaped by fear and prescriptions which emanant from his paymasters. But the opposite is true, the forces that may be, should be subjeted to intense debate by the opposition on the basis of different standpoint views. It is exactly what follows from differences of views about the same topic at hand that gives birth to innovative notions which are beneficial to the country at large. Put differently, different approaches to a same topic creates divergent thinking, albeit it involves heightened emotions. Viva HH, UNPD. Peace and education to all Zambians. Viva HH.

  57. UPND members of Parliament should stand with their MMD counter parts. This is not about MMD but about an irresponsible Speaker who is paying to his master for letting him have that job. That speaker is a political cadre who is unfit to hold that position. The man has no integrity. He was even falling to pay taxes at his formal law firm and what saved him is that job which makes him have some immunity. 

    UPND remember you are being treated yourself by this government. Sooner than later you will need MMD to stand by your side. Support them despite your Mufumbwe issue. 

  58. Reflecting and internalising are terms in any argument which should not be follwed by passiveness, but the respondant/s should also counter-argue the issue at hand, if not, then the act of walking out is the most preferred and civilised option. MMD parliamentarians did not instigate violence nor did they transgress any law. In the court of public opinion, MMD comrades might have gone a step further by engaging in a silent protest, say a seat-in protest in Dr. Matibini ‘s office. Comrades, victimisation in any form such institutional victimisation and structural victimisation should not be tolerated by any society and such tendencies should not flourish in your country. Viva comrades, viva HH and viva UNPD. Peace to all Zambians.

  59. Ladies and gentlemen, our president is to blame for all this nosense coz he took jokes to parliament and MPs are supposed to discuss the presidential speech word for word which also included his jokes. So Dr Matibini do not curtail MMD MPs when they are debating the presidential speech if anything get some advise from Mwanamwambwa

  60. If there is a place in parliament in the all world where joke can be entertained i guess Zambia should be the last, Ukwa shud mature and realize that he is a states man and not some leader of a political party. We have had enough of his nonsense, jokes will never develop zed. In fact let it be known to him that he has a bad taste when it comes to jokes. No wonder they call him Fr Ukwa.

  61. One would think the role of the opposition is to offer alternative views and not to agree with everything the ruling government is saying as expected by PF. In an authentic democracy, the opposition is free to exercise there disagreements and the speaker of the house is the least expected to suppress freedom of expression.

  62. Where can one see the President’s speech that was torn up?
    “Seeing is very different from being told.”
    Then can properly speak about the aftermath.
    Now the walk out!?
    What next?
    Still stand the moral ground that it was an acceptable behaviour to tear up paper.
    One wonders whether Zambia is going forward or backwards!?

  63. if something is useless what do you do to it ? please distribute the speech to those that can not afford toilet tissue…. it could be handy !!

  64. The entire nation will be forced to believe that persons appointed into government service and National Assembly are of questionable characters.

    The PF systematically nominated and appointed onlcadres well documented in their database – and those with well-endowed with dominant faulty genes. Apparently, persons who possess upright mind-sets and good integrity cannot fit into the PF govt machinery.

    We now know the true nature of Dr. Matibini and fully understand as to which side of the bread is buttered for the Speaker of the National Assembly.

  65. It is childish kwena abafyashi abamano can not behave that way besenda bata basata Kwati mwaice even our so called Pastor Nevers Mumba should avoid such remarks to our father of the Nation .Nga pali ichilubo kwena ngabafyashi landeni mubusuma uchila imiponto oh my god! Kwena tuchili tulelolesha ichalo uko chileya! God bless this NATION

  66. once upon a time ,i met a man who pretend as if he doesnt know how to play draft,i won the first two games,but he later proved to be a master in draft.so if the MMD see the president speech is useless they should point out PARTS of the speech which dont make sense and point the few which make sense.its not possible that the whole content in the speech is useless as it was prepared by OUR LEARNED COLLENGUES in the govt not by sata.if they do that,then i will have my analysis weather the entire speech is useless or not.the MMD should swallow their PRIDE and provide checks and balances to the MCS led administration.

  67. As some have already pointed out the president erred with his uncultured jokes. The best the speaker could have done was to stop the president from making light of serious business.
    This incident highlights several deficiencies in the systems of governance. Firstly the speaker cannot offer any checks to his counterpart, the president. If the separation of powers was implemented to the full, the speaker would have stopped the president from continuing with is crude jokes ,but because of some unfounded fear he did not. This is one thing I find baffling about “educated Africans”. What is an enlightened person with a PhD afraid of? What does he believe in? Moreover he is at the same level as the president.

  68. Secondly, the president should realize that the things he says can easily become law. One of the requirements of being a president is to be of sound mind. How can we trust a person who misconducts himself in such high places and in public? I leave it to your imagination to conjure up what goes on in cabinet meetings…

  69. It is said that “words have got consequences”, if the president had conducted himself in court as he did in parliament he would have been charged with contempt. The judge in this case being the check on the judicial side would be correct to censure the president. Why the speaker lapsed in his duties raises a lot of questions about his suitability for this position.

    In the final analysis the president knows that the other two arms of government are weak and he can do whatever he wants. The chief justice and the the speaker will still worship him. Will we get a balance of power in the new constitution?

  70. LT what’s this nonsense of duplicte comment detected? Where is the other comment if you cant publish the duplicate? Over kaingu, seems iris works for you thats why you dont want is to comment.[-(

  71. The president need to be advised that jokes have no space in a presidential speech to the nation. Presidential, Prime Ministerial or Queens speeches have never been dashed with anecdotes light moments in bad taste phrases. Most of these speeches are solrmnised with national policies on which the government vows to achieve in delivering services to citizens. Where is the room for casuality statements that may not impact on the seriousness government is implying to carry out. Sata needs his political and economic advisors drill him in speech delivery to the nation.Speaker of the national assembly is demeaning freedom of expression in Zambia. He will be known leave parliament with a poor legacy in Zambia.

  72. You pipo lets advise but not insulting the head of state .icho nomba champwa pantu even abafyashi bensu batata ba William Banda kulwa nn twaiche ,mwebafyashi twalomba ukuti tupeleshane umuchishi ichi chalo chesu tomorrow it will b u to lead th nation ala fyebana twanaka nesele plz batata ba kaingu,ba HH, ba mumba ,bamayo banawakwi nabambipo.

  73. I saw Matibini yawn several times as Sata addressed parliament. I believe the yawn was an indication of having been inspired by the speech, or was it that Njala ya mu Nyokola Speaker?

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