THE fourth session of the 11th National Assembly opens today with new sitting arrangements for Patriotic Front members (MPs) and some opposition legislators following the election of former Minister of Justice Edgar Lungu as republican President.
Parliament adjourned sine die on December 19, 2014.
Nalolo MP Inonge Wina (PF) takes charge of government business in the House as Vice-President, replacing Lusaka Central MP Guy Scott (PF).
Mr Lungu, who was acting President at the time of President Sata’s death in October last year, was MP for Chawama Constituency in Lusaka.
Mufumbwe MP Steven Masumba (PF), who was absent during the last session because of court issues, is expected in the House today after being released from prison on a presidential pardon.
Dr Scott will take a back bench, so will former minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Mwansa Kapeya (PF).
They will be joined by former minister of Local Government and Housing Emmanuel Chenda (PF) and former minister of Agriculture and Livestock Wylbur Simuusa (PF).
New entrants in the House are nominated members Mulenga Sata, who is Deputy Minister for State House, and Margaret Mwanakatwe, Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry.
Zambezi West legislator Christabel Ngimbu (PF) takes up a ministerial seat for Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
MMD’s Michael Kaingu and Vincent Mwale have both moved to the front bench as Minister of Education and Minister of Youth and Sport, respectively.
Mkushi South MP Davies Chisopa (PF) joins the list of new ministers as one in charge of Central Province.
UPND’s Solwezi Central MP Dawson Kafwaya is another opposition member of Parliament serving as minister for North-Western Province.
During last session, Parliament considered eight bills.
These are Income Tax, Customs and Excise, Property Transfer Tax, Zambia Revenue Authority, Mines and Minerals Development, Local Government, Value Added Tax and the Appropriation Bill.
The House also considered four private members’ motions on the Civil Service Wage Freeze, Stock Theft, Illegally Acquired Land and Heritage Sites.
There were 12 public motions and 14 annual reports.
Good, Guy Scot kunuma. The article failed to mention that Silver Masebo & GBM should not even bother to appear in the House because they will be haunted out. Ba stupid ba! They should move to HH’s headquarters (which seems to shift sometimes to the ECZ talling centre). Munkombwe umunabo, its over, till next lies.
Just wondering what would have happened to Masumba’s seat had he been opposition MP during his conviction.
parliament is balanced with inonge as head of the house,scott as back bencher and three oppositiom mps as ministers
Mufumbwe MP Steven Masumba (PF), who was absent during the last session because of court issues, is expected in the House today after being released from prison on a presidential pardon.