Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini yesterday ruled that Finance minister Alexander Chikwanda was in order to present the 2013 budget while at the same time acting as republican President.
Dr Matibini made the ruling after UPND Monze Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu rose on a point of order as to whether the Government was right to allow an acting President to present the budget.
Mr Mwiimbu wondered whether the Government was in order to abuse the processes of Parliament with impunity and setting precedence that demeaned the integrity of the House.
But in his ruling the Speaker said Mr Mwiimbu’s argument did not hold as Mr Chikwanda continues to be minister of Finance even when acting as President.
Dr Matibini said President Michael Sata had authorized Mr Chikwanda to present the budget speech as was usually the case.
“The presentation of the budget is always executed by the minister of Finance. The fact that he is acting President does not entail him to vacate the position. The President instructed the minister of Finance to deliver a message and he did just that.
“There is really nothing un-parliamentary and the House is not undermined. He (Mr Chikwanda) has not vacated that position. President Sata is still President of the republic of Zambia,” he said.
The Speaker also said the President under the provisions of the law could appoint a member of his Cabinet to act in his position during his absence.
Parliament also heard that Zambia currently has 2289 registered medical doctors as of June 30, this year.
Health Deputy Minister Patrick Chikusu was responding to an oral question by MMD Chipata Central MP Reuben Mtolo who wanted to know how many medical doctors are currently registered and practicing in Zambia.
On the number of Chinese medical doctor’s practicing in Zambia, Dr Chikusu said there were 132 conventionally trained doctors and 15 herbalists who are registered with the Traditional Practitioners Association of Zambia (TPAZ).
Of the 132 doctors Chinese Doctors, 64 are fully registered while 58 are on temporal registration.
Parliament also heard that government spends an average K9 million to educate a single student in the school of education at the University of Zambia (UNZA) while a Humanities and social Sciences student cost K12 million.
Responding to a question by PF Chilubi MP Obius Chisala, Education deputy minister Nevelyn Wilomba said a school of Medicine student’s education was pegged at K40 million, Mines student at K46million and Agriculture at K35 million.
The House further heard that 511 stray dogs had been killed in Lusaka from the time the exercise started to date.
Local Government deputy minister Forrie Tembo said 7995 dogs had been registered in the same period.
Mr Tembo said as a result of the registration exercise which costs K55, 000 per dog, the Government had raised over K439 million.
[Times of Zambia]
The issues raised by Monze member of parliament had no merit at all, I cant be suprised because he is coming from the background of failures in law. He and Hakainde are using draconia law.
Hon. Mwiimbu is bitter
I have noted that none of all the 150 MPs elected hase raise an issue with the budget. We are inn S.H.I.T. Instead of discussing the most important issue with regards to budget, the opposition spends time to ask about procedure and dogs. This country sucks. I think Barotseland are right to go alone.
spot on..! These Honorable MPs are useless.Are those important matters to waste precious time on sure?? Very embarrassing debate.
40 million on a medico and he/she wants to run after govt spends such a collosal amount? a school of education stuza must be allocated a larger chuck than a mere social scientist because he/she is the anchor of all manner of education hence the need to look into the plight of education students and not undermining social scientists, i implore them to be meaningful in zambia than just sitting and formulating policies that end up in workshops. we need engineers, medics, scientists to be in the forefront to develop Zambia not mere socialization which we have have done for last quarter of a century.
Chikwanda and sata have Kaposi Sarcoma
& what abt you my dear idi0t, wht do you have???
This Ma tea beans is a big let down. The president handed power to chikanda and he says the the president is in charge. Sorry for Zambia. We Bembas have been late down. Bembas you have leant your lesson.
Napoleon is always right. Animal farm.
Surely, it is quite disgraceful that a lawyer can ask such a question regarding his area of competence. What kind of lawyers are these?
Zero option, it seems you are doing chikwakwa. why did you decide to go education. There is one explanation, you where dull at secondary school.
the fact that that Chikwanda was acting as president didnt mean that he stoped being the minister of finance. i dont see anything wrong with him presenting the budget, was there another person appointed MoF? no, so who was suppose to present it? All MPs please debate the merits and demerits of the budget and not this nonsense
It was clear from onset that JackArse Mwiimbu was being a detractor! It is nonsense to give Chikwanda the full presidency when he is simply acting. The house sat as parliament as Chikwanda was there as Minister of Finance and bearer of message from the president. Instead of discussing the content of the budget, they discuss rubbish! UPND, get over it, by now HH should be acting president everytime the president is out and we the people would have a government we desired. You UPND have partly messed us up! Now discuss that budget and pass it as we the people are in need of employment, health services, education and good governance!
JACK MWIMBU IS VERY DULL I REMEMBER HIM FROM DAYS AS TOWN CLERK FOR LUSAKA. WE ALMOST FIRED HIM FOR INCOMPETENCE AND BEING TOO SLOW
what a dull speaker..!eish..
if I may ask; what makes you think he’s dull???
wat tha f**ck is wrong with the opposition??it seems they are failing 2 debate!!! Most of the issues’s raised these day are total sh!t.
If any of you bastards are reading this we expect you to represent us not your p.parties!!!
It is well with my soul!