Opposition Members of Parliament have vowed not to attend proceedings of the House when it is time to debate the 2013 national budget if Finance Minister ALEXANDER CHIKWANDA who is acting President will continue to be absent during deliberations.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Parliament Media Centre in Lusaka yesterday shortly after they walked out of the House at about 17.30 hours, MMD Vice President for administration BRIAN CHITUWO said the MPs were not happy with Mr Chikwanda’s continued absence.
He said the House had not been informed who was acting Finance Minister since Mr Chikwanda was acting President adding that the Minister was supposed to be around to listen to various debates on the budget that he presented.
“We are here to represent our people and we are not happy that Mr Chikwanda is not around as Finance Minister to listen to our concerns raised on the budget he presented.
“To show that we are also serious MPs, we shall be walking out not until Mr Chikwanda comes back or we are officially told who is acting on his behalf,” Dr Chituwo said.
He said the MPs were not happy that Vice President GUY SCOTT was reporting to a Cabinet Minister in Mr Chikwanda yet he (Scott) was senior to him the time President MICHEAL SATA was in the country.
UPND Senanga MP Likando Mufalali said the MPs would today walkout during debate on the Budget Speech if Mr Chikwanda would still be absent as a way of showing that they should be told who was acting on his behalf.
He said the MPs respected deliberations of the House but their concerns should be heard and respected as well because their only demand was to know the acting Finance Minister.
MMD Nalikwanda MP GEOFFREY LUNGWANGWA said the MPs demand was genuine and was hopeful they would be told the reason why there was nobody to act on behalf of Mr Chikwanda.
This is the second time the MPs were walking out of the House this week despite several ruling by Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini said there was no disfunctionality in the House as a result of the walkouts.
And Government Chief Whip, Yamfwa Mukanga has challenged the opposition MPs over their decision saying they should inform the electorate on whether they were tired of being in Parliament so that they could be replaced through fresh elections.
Mr Mukanga who is Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister said in a separate interview that the stance by the MMD and UPND Parliamentarians would not solve anything but that they needed to be in the House and continue debating on national issues and contribute to national development.
“The decision by the opposition to walkout is neither here nor there. They just have to come to the House that is where they can be able to argue their matters. Their action is unfounded. We need them for the development of the country and so they should just come back. When they come back, they will find us,” Mr Mukanga said.
Mukanga misses the reason why the opposition MPs will not debate the budget in the absence of the Minister of Finance by a long shot! They are obviously not reading from the same page. The Minister of Finance is behaving in typical PF manner of just glossing over issues and moving on. If he is not in parliament to hear the debates, how does he institute remedial measures where required? PF are a thuggery party who do do not have respect for procedure and decorum.
Sage, you too like the MMD?UPND the point, because the reasons for boycotting the debates are not based on whether debating the budget in the absence of the Finance minister is right procedure or not but mere politicking. The reporting of the vice president to an acting president (who is junior until appointed as acting) has nothing to do with the budget! Besides, the budget is a govt proposal/document not personal. Debates could still progress w/out a minister. Proceedings in the hse are recorded and submitted to standing committees & ministry not to individuals. Am scared our opp MPs seem too hurried, personal and not too ……..
Mwaona manje, mwaona manje mwayamba kulira
This is borderline racism,
To read between the lines. Mr Chikwanda is often the acting vice president and thus should be made so drop Mr Guy Scott and have a Finance Minister
This should be condemned and victimization, mendacity,hounding and pretense at removing a white-man should be condemned by all of you in here
This is a joke and there should be a clause NOW that should whiteman I cant help but condemn this with the utmost contempt it deserves
Thanks
read the constitution first. it does no allow Dr Guy Scott to act as president…
you are so shallow if feel sorry for your boyfriend
Well done ba opposition.A nation must be led thru a good amount of respect for rules & procedures to be whole.Once you have an administration setting the rules to its tune you open avenues for abuse.The ill educated Mukanga shud see how careful police are over here bcoz a judge can toss out a case just on procedural gounds.
@Mushota Mr Chikwanda has never acted as vice President instead he always acts as President, please take note.
it is pf govt no procedure what does debat mean ba mukanga and who presents the budget when the issue was rised even the speaker rule the pf way now it comes to debt time he again rules the pf way is matibini a pf speaker or he is the speaker for parliament and what is parliament does it involve only pf or what,am afraid we may be going in a ditch.
The Chaps walked out of parliament and went to drink beer. Shame on them
What if Mr. Chikwanda is very sick or has some other very serious problem that requires his urgent attention, are these honorable members going to insist that they will wait for him before they can debate the budget – even if this takes weeks or months?
Wow. In that case, always assuming that hi is incapacitated, who is the President?:-?
He shouldn’t be in that office if he is a patient!
Use your wisdom maxmbizo nosense.
Read the aritcle again…they have not given official notification as to who is acting finance minister. My guess is even mile sampa is touring with his uncle, total chaos and disregard for national matters of importance.
In this case an acting Finance minister can be appointed. cant u see the Pf govt failing to even elevate the D. Minister of Finance to act on Chikwandas seat?????
Procedural must be procedural.
No shortcut. Ukwa Im told is Back if he didnt divert to India for medical Treatment again.
Don’t be a blind PF. They want to know who is acting Minister of finance in the house. You know that deputy ministers do not act as ministers. Tell your PF kaponyas not to be jerks. At least Guy Scot understands this.
They are still bitter for having lost to PF. what a circus pa Zambia. Instead of representing people,they represent their partys interests.
They are representing the law. Even the pf mps feel it because they refer to the walk out. Just do what the law says; period!
Ba BF surely have no respect for rules or procedures.They never allowed internal democracy to pick their presidential candidate,they allowed street vending everywhere and now this.I bet ba PF would be medical school rejects or failed chemists for insisting on ignoring rules and procedures.
I don’t understand why so much confusion. Can’t PF just say who is the Acting Finance Minister?
This should be very simple!
not essential to the debate of a budget. Ok, suppose you said it was the vice president. So!
the opposition concern is genuine. if the minister of finance is not able to attend parliament, especially when there are deliberations that directly concerning him i.e. budget presented by him, he should appoint someone to act in his position. this will ensure that whatever concerns are raised, there is someone expected to be directly responsible. Hon. Chikwanda, kindly appoint someone or attend the parl to avoid wasting tax payers money by prolonged parli seating. pliz
I conquer with the views raised by#7.what if the minister of finance is incapacitated?who makes the budget?can u tell me that the deputy finance minister is not privy 2 the creation of this so called budget?in whoz interest are these parliametarian doing this walk out drama?Zambia is a funny nation indeed.Leaders are paid 4 doing nothing and acting like pipo in a circus.
Let us cross the bridge when we get to it. Moreover there shall be a president to appoint an acting minister, so no worries there sir.
#7&13 above.The rules are simple.If the minister is incapacitated he simply asks one among the fellow senior ministers to act in his position at no cost all.Its PF who delaying the debates because procedure to them is alien.Remember its a government of ten commandments so as such procedure is the game plan.PF should own up and ask any of their semi skilled and dosing minister to take up that portfolio in parliament for a short while.
there is a likelihood that this budget will not be approved this where these dull PF chaps are missing the point. this what we mean when we say “government without a plan” they have been caught pants down. no one anticipated this. even the chief hyena himself
Point is: You cant debate motion without mover. Problem is Sata himself. Stop blaming wrong people. Too much impunity. He knew before leaving the constitutional crisis this was going to pose. The President cant attend debates. So Chikwanda as acting he can’t. So Sata should have appointed an acting Minister of Finance when he appointed Chikwanda to act. The Acting MoF should have then read the budget speak and attended these preliminary hearings.
Banana republic
I dont think this is a serious issues that should raise dust.The problem with Zambians is that we are too petty.Is the budget the only thing to discuss in the parliament?Common oposition…think.You are just too bitter for nothing.MMD will never pounce back to power.
The PF guys are really pathetic. So far most of what they have done is POOR. What’s wrong with informing the house who the acting finance minister is. For sure someone should be responsible for matters arising from the budget debates. It can’t be guy scot and the whole cabinet like cadre matibini has put it. Pls PF, you have nothing to loose if you told the house who the acting finance minister is.
For the first time I agree with Mushota…….no one has explained why Guy Scott hardly acts as President…. it beats me
Current Constitution bwana; president has to be Zambian, and both parents have to be Zambian. MMD brought in the clause. The moment Guy Scott acts, the opposition will move a motion that government has failed to abide by the constitution and bla bla bla. To be honest, democracy at times is bad. Chaps don’t want to work; they have gone there on holiday!!
MaxMbozi read beyond lines what kind of a fool are you who does understand things?
Yes its Pandemonium.
– Even in my dream I can’t imagine Miles Sampa to answer any question on budget. I know the guy.
– Many times people have proposed that Mr. Chikwanda be Vice-President, and Umusungu Scott as Finance Minister. Unfortunately Mr. Chikwanda wants to retire, too much pressure due to close family relationships with Sata.
The misplaced & abused position is the deputy finance minister, Sampa need to deputy Kambwili at sports.
How qualified, is this man?
I have an MBA, CIMA, ACCA, MSc, Bsc Applied Acc from Oxford Brookes, MBA
and have now just started a PhD
and I am only 27, not married but engaged
Just a thought…
Thanks
True; and you are still illiterate; how sad!!
These MPs are just trying to use the current situation as an excuse in order to go en take beer en women at parliament motel.
Ba Mushota if this is the way you will carry on with your muzungu, your days in that relationship are numbered! No musungu uukamupa chipuba, mwalingana fye. Utumano twamukakopo kwati ni ulya musician Kay.
LIC POWERS #18,
I will let other bloggers decide who between you and me is a fool.. You are at liberty to call me a fool, but I will not return your “compliment” because it is not my nature to stoop low and start addressing my fellow bloggers as fools. Let us debate in a civil, mature, respectful, and intelligent way.
What the PF is effectively saying is….here is our budget, now discuss it among ourselves. They have not even given notice as to who is acting finance minister, who then can answer the questions posed with credibility? I assume mile sampa in touring the world with his uncle. Total disregard for national issues of importance if you ask me.
*amongt yourselves
That is why we will be voting for the rulling party mps to avoid this.
let them be they useless.the budget will still go through without them.viva
GOOD MOVE BA OPPO, NEXT WE NEED TO IMPEACH THIS BROWN ROTTEN TEETH GANSTER
u my friend are an *****! can’t u see that tax payers money is being wasted????????????????
I think the remuneration system of MP’s needs to be revealed, it needs to be variable not fixed. No work no pay period!
This is unacceptable, why call them opposition if they can’t even debate?? As a voter, my interests are not being represented by these bastardz!
How do they debate the budget when the person responsible for it is absent?
My point is still valid, y pay them if they can’t debate???
Procedure is procedure. Why didnt PF with Wynter Maize Kabimba appoint an acting Finance Minister? when are Deputy Ministers going to act????
Procedure is procedure. The Minister of Finance must be in the house or someone appointed to act as Minister of finance must be announced and be present when debating this issue. PF to blame NOT opposition MP’s.
Imbwa tyala izi. Dissolve everything we vote afresh.
Kindly be advised that MCS is the President despite of him being out of the country,you are reasonig like Dr. Mumba who thought that he was not acting President but that he was president, this is the reason why he was fired because you do not make difficult decisions without consulting your Boss, this is the practice in all proffessional institutions.
Mushota is a major liar with an impressive wishlist. She’s also quite bitter and seemingly wishes she was in Zambia. Poor thing…..
you people these same mediocre opposition mps caused this thru their support of an idyotic legislation baring the likes of Dr Scott to be president when they were targeting KK in 1996, until that law is scraped, Hon Chikwanda continues. HEMCS is fully aware of this sicupiti law.
You PF just ignore these childish opposition. You can debate the budget with out them. Zambia should not suffer at the hands of these selfish people. Just ignore them and continue debating it alone. After all, the budget is good just implement it. Ignore them with their childishness..shaaa .
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
any meeting requires the presence of the mover of the motion during discussion
Mushotata you are paranoid…who cares what you have???????
Some of the bloggers either side of the argument make no sense. However, I agree that if Chikwanda wants to be both Acting President and minister he should dedicate full attention to both jobs. He can’t be absent from the debate on HIS budget.
#34 & 35 You can not move a motion and then leave. The motion should then be suspended until the mover returns. It is simply procedure. As for what you call the ‘scupidy’ Constitution, it was passed at the instigation of one Michael Sata “your so called Man of Action hero” in 1996. Why do people have such short memories.
this isn’t the first time these ***** are doing this or walking away, had it being the 1st time their reasons could have being genuine!!!
Opposition are telling us that without a minister of finance,zambia should come to a stand still?Wake up you chaps!!
Dear opposition MPs, When you act in a position, you maintain your status. The Deputy Minister of Finance is in the House so what is the fuss. I pray the President dissolves the Parliament.
this is what I call a united opposition..viva!!!
@Mushota#21
You little miserable lost slave and, what the hell are you trying to prove there in Eurpoe? You are always high on glue because you are sniffing it. What else can you afford? Please, ask us Africans to raise money for an air ticket so that you can rejoin your family in Zambia. Pity, you keeping on posting fake qualifications on internet. Your stupid passive “Nick” is a real jerk and he does not have any taste in women.
@MUSHOTA#21
You are 27 years old and your age is a determinant factor. If one looks at the inventory of fake qualifications you posted above, then one will deduce that your age does not correspond to the total number of years it takes to attain both undergraduate degrees and postgraduate degrees which appear above. Before you think you of concocting such stories, please, try to apply the social construction theory, it might help you. Do not think that people are as dame as you are. I am only suggesting basics at the phase. It takes a long time to attain masters about 2-3 years and you posted 2 MBAs. You also posted a couple of undergraduate degrees and for any normal person it is an insult to lie like that. Viva HH, viva SATA,
It is not bitterness that the opposition MPs walked out of Parliament. To suggest bitterness is being simplistic. The issue here is that in line with what Kabimba agreed to as the teething problem of the PF Govt. which does not have what it takes to uphold the statutes of the highest offices (Executive, Legislature, and judiciary). His Excellence has led the way by breaking virtually all protocols. There is nothing so light as accusing someone as a colonialist who has come to payback. The various missed opportunities and unsuitable utterances are all too obvious to go into detail. As if this was not enough His Excellence MCS chose not to read fully his prepared speech in the house but instead chose to punctuate his speech with dirty jokes. Hon. Kaingu laid all bare on Muvi TV assignment.