Three UPND Members of Parliament on Tuesday conspicuously disappeared with no trace hours before Parliament could resume debating the controversial Bill 10 motion.
Lufwanyama MP Leonard Fungulwe and his Mpongwe counterpart Rasfold Bulaya including Kapiri Mposhi MP Stanley kakubo sent the UPND in panic mood as they failed to turn up in the House.
Efforts by Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Jack Mwiimbu to reach the trio proved futile as their mobile phones went unanswered.
Sources at Parliament revealed that the three UPND MPs had decided to abandon the position taken by their party on Bill 10 and planned to enter the House just before voting for the Bill.
When the UPND got wind of the plan, Mazabuka Central MP Garry Nkombo raised an urgent Point of Order requesting the Speaker to make a ruling on whether the Bill 10 debate should proceed when there is a High Court case filed by Former Commerce Minister Dipak Patel challenging the constitutionality of Minister of Finance continued contraction of loans without consulting Parliament.
Mr Nkombo had referred Speaker Patrick Matibini to the matter in which he ruled that Parliament could not hear the impeachment motion against President Edgar Lungu because the matter was before the courts of law.
He challenged Dr Matibini to rule on whether it was in order for Parliament to go ahead and debate the Bill which deals with an Article which is a subject of a court petition in the High Court.
The Point of Order forced Parliament to adjourn abruptly as Speaker Matibini requested for more time to study the Point of Order.
By time of publishing, Parliament stood adjourned from around 14:40.
Good one Gary, This careless Speaker Matibini is not going to make the same mistake he did with BUFFOON CK’s case..really laughable
They have always been in panic mode. Always these upndeads. Always.
Checkmate for speaker. Have a taste of your own medicine. Feels good doesn’t it?
Good politics Gary!! though unfortunate that Zambians are left out of the constitution process. We Zambians should have been the ones deciding what to put in and the means of adopting the amendment (Bill 10)
Where were you when citizens were called upon to make submissions? The time to complain is over!!! Its now time to enact bill 10. Pamberi ne bill 10
tonama – didn’ t you not see people walking out of NDF as they disapproved of it and its agenda only the likes of Tayali and Dan Pule remained clapping
What empowers the UPND MPs to walk out of the proceedings, is the constitution that WE Zambians gave ourselves, WE Zambians decide what to be in that constitution and the means of adopting the constitution. The constitution is above the Republican President, Ministers, MPs (PF, UPND, ETC), Judiciary, in short every Zambian as such we can not leave it to only PF and UPND to decide what should be in it, The role of Parliament in enacting the constitution is meant to be rubber stamping only if WE Zambians decide what goes in it and means of adopting it.
It is not enough to only decide what will go into it but we need to decide what means of adoption to employ.
All this is about money. We cant run a country were the is we and them when we a serving the same people. More drama, kambwili’s man will be his first and last year to be MP.
Those opposing MPs have been paind money to walk away?
Updead
What is your problem kanshi ? you walked out yesterday why are you back now
Just to delay the process?
Let them who remained in parliament and let’s see if your boasting is right.
retreats aren’t always about defeat. Sometimes, they’re a deliberate tactic to gain more defensible ground, consolidate forces, encircle an enemy, or lead them into an ambush.
The three understand that the country comes before party and loyalty to a desperate demigod leader. Kz
Iwe Kaiser the three have collected $$ that don’t belong to them. Plus tuma threats. They have sold their souls to Lucifer!
They have sworn allegiance to the country. Not to a upndead god.
I was there when we said NO to one party democracy so am enjoying the drama. No insults am supporting Bill10.
If it is true they have decided to vote with the PF in support of the bill possibly in exchange for something nice then that will be the end of their career. Just ask Monde and company. Where are they now?
I don’t see the point of walking out. Wht’s wrong with remaining in the chamber and then putting your objections on the official record of proceedings and then vote for Bull 10 or against it? The UPND parliamentary leadership is not up to the task.
Kaizer you are a looser mwaiche wandi you will wind up like a dog
The way some contributors make their arguments would make one think they actually are in constant conversation with their parliament representatives to guide actions taken in the house. Walkouts are a known phenomenon of Commonwealth parliaments as a way of expressing disagreement, filibuster and/or protest against fairness/failure. Can be used to apply pressure to make a point especially where a majority party could bulldoze legislation! I believe that none of the people making comments have a deeper understanding of Bill 10 and the dangers of a polarized parliament that has ruling party MP’s sucking up to a leadership that wants a perpetual stay in governing! Corona virus has the urgent need to address and not to push for survival of one currently on plot one! Hmmm……unless it’s…
contd….party to elimination of the virus thus taking up the issue now would disinfect the open wound of rotten skin (economy)!
Kaizer Sulu is a massive d1ck head .Not long ago he was referring to his dad as a prick .
The AWOL MPs are a disgrace and should be considered as having crossed the floor! Speaker, please nullify their seats!
Bill10 is Poison! An MP of integrity (PF, UPND and Others) should NOT vote to pass a Bill that takes power away from the people and give leaders excessive powers! You don’t give a trigger-happy leader excessive especially when he is constantly threatening citizens with crashing using tonnes of bricks! Voting under the influence of bribes should attract serious consequences for the offender!
It seems democracy is finally manifesting in upnd. Those 3 mps realise that the country is bigger than hh, Mwimbu or Nkombo. Do it for the people you represent, honorables.
Yesterday a UPND stooges confirmed that 1 MPs is remaining to reach 2/3 for parley to pass bill 10.No wonder HH’s blind followers now are rushing to court to buy time.BILL 1O has passed,Kwamana!
Comment:We don’t love each other as well as our own country Zambia
go Gary to many litu stooges in parliament