Nalikwanda United Party for National Development (UPND) Member of PArliament Profesor Geoffrey Lungwangwa has said that that the fundamental responsibility of all Members of Parliament is to amend the constitution adding that walking away from the House is depriving the electorate a voice.
Speaking at an event of Members of Parliament from the ruling Patriotic Front, UPND, MMD, FDD, and Independent MPs, Prof Lungwangwa said that the Constitution cannot be amended by any institution apart from Parliament.
At the same event, Government Chief Whip Hon Brian Mundubile said that the Government is confident that the new Republican Constitution will speak to the aspirations of the people of Zambia and that was the more reason stakeholders should support the passing of Bill 10 of 2019 in Parliament.
“We in Government are confident that if we amend the current constitution, it will speak to the aspirations of the people of Zambia. This is not a political matter as it has progressive clauses that will help us in the governance system of the country,” he said.
The Members of Parliament took turns in explaining the importance of passing the Bill and strongly condemned other MPs who walked out of Parliament during the Second Reading.
The MPs, who refused to walk out of Parliament when the Constitution Amendment Bill No.10 came up for second reading, contended that they will vote in favour of bill 10 if all the recommendations of the select committee are adopted.
UPND Solwezi West Member of Parliament Teddy Kasonso who was a member of the Select Committee, has explained that he could not walk out of the house when the bill came up for second reading as a member of the select committee.
The MPs in attendance included: Nalikwanda UPND MP Prof. Geoffrey Lungwangwa, Bwana Mkubwa PF MP Hon Jonas Chanda, Kabwe Central PF MP Tutwa Ngulube, Solwezi West UPND MP Teddy Kasonso, Chiengi FDD MP Given Katuta, Sioma Independent MP Nancy Subulwa, Wusakile Independent MP Pavyuma Kalobo, Kasenengwa MP Sensio Banda, Lumezi MP Pilile Here, Lusaka Central MP Margaret Mwanakatwe, Nominated MP Hon Raphael Nakachinda, Serenje MMD MP Maxson Kabanda, Roan NDC MP Joseph Chisala, Muchinga MMD MP Howard Kinda, Sinda MP Masauso Tembo, Chembe MP Hon Sebastian Kopulande and Bangweulu MP Anthony Kasandwe, Muchinga MMD MP Howard Kunda, among other MPs.
Where’s new investor at KCM? Wht promise was made to the nation by no other than ECL @ Maputo Airport last yr?
Who else cannot get any sense from this article?
These idyots should contract Corona for God sake.
What the fvck are they kissing each other at public press briefing for?
It’s like this professor and his colleagues dont want to stand next year. So better to exit in this fashion than going empty handed.
Walking away from country responsibility is shameful, the country is looking up to you to debate issues affecting the country but if keep walking away like kids because you’re not happy or because your leader be HH or CK is not in agreement with the Bill 10 clauses dose show maturity in the way you handle important country issues. Have independent mind analyze issues on your own. There are certain issues we have to agree as the party that l do understand but when they’re issues that seem the whole is talking, put partization politics aside and debate
Ba Musonda, you are right. I think we choose wrong people to represent us in parliament. I also think parliament should come up with some strict rules to deal with certain counter productive behavior of MPs.
Walking away from the national responsibility is not paying retirees on time what they worked for. Walking away from the national responsibility is not paying social cash transfer to the venerable like the elderly and physically challenged on time.
Remember that bill 10 should not be dealt with emotionally but should be approached objectively. Any action in favor of the bill or against it has far reaching consequences one has got to weigh the consequences in either case and decide. All the MP’S in parliament are mature people and there is nothing in the bill they don’t understand as law makers who can widely consult from people well vexed in matters to with the law.
Mr. Rowdy, You have a valid point too. I like your objectivity.
Does the law really matter in Zambia? If law matters in Zambia, why’s there so much disorder?
Walking away from intelligent debate on behalf of the Zambian people, is gross irresponsibility. Actually, the bill will pass as long as the prescribed numbers are there to vote. Let’s not toil with a sacred responsibility intrusted to you by the Zambian people. The first and most important people to consult on matters of parliamentary representation is the constituency and not the part leader persay. Professor Lungwangwa is right.
Not even the Zambian parliament can do that. The constitution should only be amended thru a country-wide referendum coz Zambian MPs have selfish vested interests.
Lungwangwa munungwa hao nja tuwe, kona kweta yaku lekile Inonge wena sinamunungu tuwe. Ona Bill 10 yeo luta icomeka mwa linungu tula lahao leo!
Please Bo Lubinda when something has failed toss it away than trying to force matters. The more you force this thing the more dangerous it looks, never in our history has anyone forced a constitution amendment like the way PF is doing. I mean with all the coronavirus and a declining economy not forgetting the depreciating kwacha all you guys can focus on in this chi bill 10. If this was a stimulus bill like the one in US, I would support it since there will be a direct benefit for everyone in it, than this bill 10 with some sugar-coated clauses with no guarantee they will be adhered to especially by someone who swore to uphold our constitution but has not done so. Our laws only apply to the opposition, just yesterday disabled matched to someone’s house without authorization
Everyone knows this you silly nutty professor. Telling us grade 8 civics haha
Ba Lusakatimes what is this, we cannot comment but this criminal Kaizar can comment twenty times. This has to come to an end, don’t take us for fools giving you viewership or traffic you can use to advertise now you think this soon to be caged thug deserves more coverage than us the citizens
@Mzambia: what is the role and function of the Legislature??? Why do we vote for 153 representatives from across the entire country just to pay them hefty allowances and remunerations for not doing their nothing???
But, these all gathered here are captured creatures. The have no credibility. The desperation is overwhelming!! Why go to the extent of using disabled people? It’s a divide and rule tactic of Lungu. We can read all through it.
There are 3 organs of the government, the executive, legislature and the judiciary. Research about the functions of all the 3 institutions and then make your comments. The legislature is there to make laws. Mzambia, why do you always embarrass yourself by making dull comments as if you have never been behind the desk? Put your partisan emotions aside when analysing issues, or learn to keep quiet if you don’t know anything.
Waisebanya pafula. Commenting on every issue doesn’t mean you have got brains.
What was this parading all about? All this congregation just to say one or two sentences on something we have heard over and over again. Why so worked up about one ka bill like someone’s life depends on it. This is really becoming wicked and wild!!!.
The Mps who walked out missed an opportunity to tell the nation the ills of bill 10. Perhaps there is n’t.Even grade 8s don’t walk out of their debates.The Mps who give checks & balances nowadays leaves much to be desired.What they should have done is tell us whats wrong with the bill & give alternatives unlike the 14th century behavior of dealing with disputes they displayed with impunity & lacking foresight.The major problem is that some of them have outlived their usefulness in constituencies.Its time to change them in 2021.
Bill 10 is a non stator for PF and the govt, and this Bill for God’s sake must pull through.
Of course these corrupt morons had to say something to defend their heinous acts of receiving huge bribes.
For the likes of the fatty Nutty Professor Kangwanwa, this is time for him to loot for the last time before he goes into complete political oblivion… a very fo.o.lish and selfish fat old man! These are people that don’t even know why they are in politics and the sooner they go the better for everyone.