Governance, Elections, Advocacy, Research Services Initiative Zambia says Choma Central MP Cornelius Mweetwa has not breached any law whatsoever to warrant an apology to the Vice-President.
GEARS Initiative Zambia Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi says instead it is the Vice-President who has not been sincere to herself, the House and the nation at large who needs to apologise to the nation and the House.
Mr Chipenzi says Mrs Wina’s responses to questions posed to her on the floor of the HOUSE needs much to be desired and do not inspire confidence in her leadership as Leader of Government Business in the House, very un-researched and casual.
He said as an old politicians, young parliamentarians would have been learning from her to pursue a path of truth in their debates but she is full of speculative and un-researched answers/responses
“For instance, when the second office was asked about the Commissioner General of Zambia Prisons Service’s utterances in Monze regarding barring those opposed to President EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU to enter the gates of correctional facilities, her response was casual and frustrating not only to those who asked her but us the followers of parliamentary debates”, he said.
Mr Chipenzi said her response was that she has not received a report on the matter yet the President was there in Monze and the statement aired on a number of media outlets.
He said such kind of responses are what erodes her of befitting decorum as a Vice-President leading to young politicians describing her responses as shallow and shameful.
Mr Chipenzi said Mr Mweetwa has the right to demand concrete answers from the Vice-President on who was involved in the gassing of people and the gutting of the City market than the answers being accorded to the nation by the Vice-President.
“If Mweetwa is not satisfied and the Speaker does not intervene, the MP has all every right to describe such responses as “shallow and shameful” a sign that a more upright answer is needed instead of admonition from the Speaker”, he added.
Mr Chipenzi said if she is not researched her responses, let her office put up a team of researchers, otherwise, her responses will continue to be despised and described as “shallow and shameful” both in and outside parliament.
He said GEARS expect her to apologise to the opposition for falsely accusing them of gassing the people and gutting the City market instead of Mweetwa apologizing and to the nation for not giving any convincing answers to those two hideous acts and people behind such.
“Even me, i would not have apologized and would still describe her responses on gassing and the gutting of the City market as “shameful and shallow” as there is nothing disrespectful about that”, he added.
Mr Chipenzi said the speaker must be fair to Mr Mweetwa by demanding comprehensive responses from the Vice-President and the entire executive on questions raised by MPs on the floor of the House to avoid a burkee of mediocrity of answers.
He said the speaker must ask the Executive, through the Vice-President, on who was actually behind the gassing of the people and gutting of the City market.
Mr Chipenzi said if not proper and convincing answers are given, then the Vice-President must be made to apologise to the House, the Opposition and the Nation for misleading and lying to the nation putting the lives of innocent opposition in serious political danger.
“Many lives were lost and many people lost relatives and breadwinners on mere suspicions, speculations and based on finger pointing and yet the Vice-President approaches such with casual”, he said.
He said Parliament must be a place of truth and evidenced based answers not mere demand for respect from people who don’t deserve it just because they occupy certain positions of influence in the land or age.
Mr Chipenzi has warned that casual responses to serious matters attract casual descriptions and disrespectful debates therefore, such approaches by the Vice-President or any member of the Executive must not be acceptable or entertained by the Speaker.
See the fire in the Prime Ministers question time in the UK parliament and the answers backed by real data, fact and details. Here, all you get are very general answers and surprisingly it seems acceptable
Mweetwa was even respectful to her because shallow was an understatement. At her age she is supposed to be the grounder to the excited boys and girls in PF but she comes out waste than Richard Soko.
Ba Chipenzi just get your share who doesn’t know you
good observation mc donald.This old woman all her life she has been in govt. in 1964 the hubby was in govt TILL NOW SHE IS STILL AFFLIATED WITH THE GOVT. MAYO,GO BACK TO THE LAND AND DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE AND LEAVE THE OFFICE FOR THE YOUNG GUYS TO IN FOREFRONT. EVEN THIS BAFOON KZ WOULD WANT TO BE THE VICE PRESIDENT AT SUM POINT WHILE IAM THE PRESIDENT AND HE BECOMES MY RUNNING MATE. BONKUKU,PLEASE U ARE DISGRACE.SEAT AND START FANTASIZING IN THE VILLAGE OF MONGU.NOT BEING INSULTED BY YOUR OWN CHILDREN. YOU,ASKED FOR IT.
But who said he breached the Law? The request for apology by the Speaker is not for breaking the Law, but use of un-Parliamentary language. Mr. Mweetwa’s stubbornness unfortunately shows that he is immature, raw and not very intelligent. What one does is to use strong language and when the Speaker asks you to apologize you do so immediately – but you have put your point across. Not creating a national fiasco. Those supporting Mweetwa on this one lack knowledge of Parliamentary etiquette or it is blind politicking.
MWENSO NIMFWA, SAYS HH…as Mufulira taxi drivers, residents beat up unruly PF cadres
By Charles Tembo in Mufulira]
UMWENSO ninfwa, Zambia chalo chesu bonse, says UPND President Hakainde Hichilema.
Meanwhile, taxi drivers and members of the public in Mufulira on Friday went on rampage and beat up PF cadres who had stormed Mafken FM radio in an attempt to disrupt a radio program which featured Hichilema.
Hichilema said this on Friday afternoon when he featured on Mafken FM radio in Mufulira and Radio Icengelo.
He said there was no need to be scared of any threats because the police have to arrest criminals threatening others.
“Zambia is one people who are a family, fighting for the common good. Mwenso ninfwa (fear is a sign of death), Zambia chalo chesu bonse (country for all of us)…
The only place I have seen Chimpazees is at place near Chingola called Chimfushi.
The Nation needs Comprehensive answers to the Gassing of People and Gutting of markets. Who committed these Crimes and why have these suspects not been brought to Court up to now? Instead of trying to gag Hon Mweetwa and others the Speaker of Parliament should help in getting answers from the Govt on these issues. MPs like everybody else have freedom of Speech. Being an MP doesn’t mean forfeiting one’s human rights. To made matters worse the Speaker is trying to gag MPs for what they say outside Parliament. The Speaker is out of order to force the MP to apologize instead of asking the Govt to apologize for gassing its Citizens and Gutting their Markets. Matibini must be sued for violating MPs freedom of Speech.
Ba HH, can we please have a better strategy to win 2021? We always tumble at the last minute because we lack a strategy to see us win. Mwanawasa beat us, Banda defeated us, Sata walloped us and Edgar defeated us twice. If we re not careful even 2021 will get past us and we could be history like UNIP. Please advise JACK and CORNIE,. Insults and arrongace will just distance us from the voters.
Our confusion in Zambia stems from lack of mature systems. We’re confused with monarch systems (like Mswati), democratic Presidential system (like USA) and traditional systems (very diverse like our 72 ethnic groups). Our leadership has failed to mobilize all of us to rally behind a common philosophy or ism for a common good (like Mao did for the Chinese or case of the ‘Tigers’ of the far East). Instead we tend to swing from one stand to another depending on what suits us not necessarily what is right or what is in the best interest of our country. Without laying down clear political fundamentals and putting in place systems to guide us always, the mediocrity will continue wasting precious time and resources.
Well spoken McDonald, well spoken
RESPECT IS EARNED, IT IS NOT DESERVED. This PF lot has not earned respect at all. There is rot from the head to the tail.
For an older person in parliament, that old woman is a shameless lier who seems not to be aware of everything everyone else is aware of……
The law does not cover every aspect of human conduct. It is not a universal guide in how we should always conduct ourselves. For instance, there is no law that tells us it is always wrong to tell lies, except in special circumstances of, say, uttering false documents or perjury. Yet, from a moral or ethical viewpoint, we disapprove of telling lies as it undermines trust and amounts to disrespecting those we tell lies to. There are so many areas of conduct we do not approve of even when they are not illegal. For instance, we do approve of by-passing accident victims and not rendering help to them even when there is no law in Zambia against it. Similarly, we disapprove of using disrespectful language against those older than us even when this may not be illegal because it undermines our…
McDonald no one accused Mweetwa of breaking any law. Do not comment to please or justify to the donors that you are working
POINT OF ORDER TO MACDONALD CHIPENZI: The law does not cover every aspect of human conduct. It is not a universal guide in how we should always conduct ourselves. For instance, there is no law that tells us it is always wrong to tell lies, except in special circumstances of, say, uttering false documents or perjury. Yet, from a moral or ethical viewpoint, we disapprove of telling lies as it undermines trust and amounts to disrespecting those we tell lies to. There are so many areas of conduct we do not approve of even when they are not illegal. For instance, we do approve of by-passing accident victims and not rendering help to them even when there is no law in Zambia against it. Similarly, we disapprove of using disrespectful language against those older than us even when this may not be…
…Similarly, we disapprove of using disrespectful language against those older than us even when this may not be illegal because it undermines our cultural values that embrace respect for elderly people. One hopes Chipenzi understands this and avoids being narrowly legalistic in his support for his UPND cronies and relatives. Besides, we do not only apologize for acts we commit that are illegal. We also apologize for acts that may not be illegal because they are probably deemed unacceptable or not in accordance with customary acceptable standards of conduct or deemed improper within a given culture.
fake bwana
This is what Mwine Lubemba calls freedom to stup.idity. There are so many ways in our traditions in which you can tell an adult that they are wrong without being vulgar. Open disrespect for elders isn’t in our traditions. That’s what makes us who we are. We’re not British nor Yankee nor Russian nor Arab. We’ve our own identity. Mweetwa has scored any points by disrespecting Mayo Inonge.
Being an MP in Zambia is suicidal. U lose all your Rights under Speaker Matibini. How can an MP be accused of using unparliamentary language during an interview at a TV Station? Surely unparliamentary language should only apply to comments made on the Floor of Parliament. Hon Mweetwa did nothing wrong in observing that the VP’s comments were “shallow ” and “shameful”. Hon Mweetwa was right!
That’s ignorant and wrong thinking.
The Political stage is one where the exhibition of the best Breeding. Education, Diplomacy and skill in Human Relations MUST be evidenced. If you are a player you must display your flare like a bird of plummage. Let us your audience/citizens see. You must not be uncouth.
Glide, and float like a butterfly. Show us your ability in Parliament, Court. The environments where our lives are shaped. APOLOGISE TK A LADY OF NOTE YOU AFRICAN BABBOON! PRIMITIVE.
This old hen must just retire and look after her grandchildren. I watched her response to the question from another buffoon MP who was asking about COVID allowances for MPs. She was shallow and feeble. She is hopeless!
The victory in an election belongs to the winning party. The crowns go to the President and Vice President, the Cabinet and all MPs share in this righteous to be revered. They’ve earned it.
All Opposition are Minions. You must be dedicated in your balance and checks duty. Be a pugilist in presentation but respectful in bringing your point of view for the consideration of your fellow politicans. The environment you work in must be conducive to allow business to be fruitful. Don’t sideline the purpose of power. To help you control your ego, say to yourself in the mirror, “I am a cog in a wheel, a mininion.”.
Those that don’t respect their elders don’t live long. In fact I remember a song called f.o.ols die by Peter McIntosh. I have seen this happen over and over again. When that boy kicks the bucket let us not behave surprised and cry about what a good man he was when we all know he was a disrespectful little s.h.i.t
She is tired, she must leave that job for young ones who have fresh minds. She will become sick with questions that is why she is shallow it is not an insult.
The language needs to be polished. It is not acceptable to adopt abusiv language among national leaders. Abusiv language sends a negative signal to young generations. The use of English is rather problematic.Oxford can help but Oxford only helps those who help themselves. I beg to disagree; May you kindly repeat yourself; To the contrary; Let us agree to disagree; Are you suggesting that; Insulting each other is determined by cultural context. In this country, it is arrogant to describe someone else’s speech as being ‘shallow’ or “shameful”. The question is: ethics, morality and law mixed up. Each of these concepts must be considered to provide credible leadership.
I wonder what has happened to Amai Wina whom I had so much respect for? Is she fighting for a second term as running mate? If one did not know the source of funny statements these days you will be forgiven to think it was from that violent but toothless party cadre Lusambo.
Please please respect is earned from exemplary behaviour, it has nothing to do with how many grand children one has or the office that one holds. Why can’t we learn from Nelson Mandela kanshi? Is it because our leaders didn’t experience political imprisonment like Mandela or even our very own KK?
Just look at the alleged booing in Monze (I actually only saw residents showing the UPND symbol, not booing), really small matter but it seems the president is so used to being praised even when people don’t mean it that it was like a tsunami has befallen them.
Apologies don’t come after you break the law. Those should be mitigating factors. We apologize when we do a wrong not a crime. If I were Mweetwa I would apologies because the lady is older than me
@ayatollah we have been westernized. Age does n’t count anymore. You saw Chanda insulting abakulu ba Kambwili and the president did nothing. It would be very difficult in these days to demand respect because I was born a year earlier than you so we have just decided to adopt European culture. No respect whatsoever. Each one live his life and that is all
When an old person begins to behave like a misbehaved young person, that old person will be treated like a misbehaved young person, I think our respected vice president has of late started to behave like a cadre, and she should excuse us if we also start treating her as we would a cadre.
The Speaker is violating Hon Mweetwa’s right to freedom of Speech outside Parliament. Hon Mweetwa should stand up for his Rights and continue to refuse to apologize for doing nothing wrong. Commenting on the VP’s allegations on a Diamond TV Interview cannot be unparliamentary. Speaker Matibini is going too far in Policing MPs behaviour outside Parliament. If not stopped Speaker Matibini will start interfering with MPs domestic and marital affairs. If need be Hon Mweetwa must sue Speaker Matibini for violating his human rights. Speaker Matibini should stop behaving as if he is a Class Monitor, a Judge in Court and a Policeman.
Chizungu. Really the problem is use of the English language. I actually understood his sentiments in the context in which it was put. He was referring to the response as being shallow and shameful that it should even be made to the nation, not the personality of the VP. The VP office has technocrats who provide information for responses To questions to that office. That is where the blame should go. What are these technocrats doing not researching sufficiently and thus exposing these high offices to ridicule because of their own poor performance on their tasks? These technocrats should be taken to task for the poor shallow And shameful responses they provide to leadership to disseminate; same with technocrats in the Presidents office. The President relies on the technocrats to provide…
Useless UPND. The opposition party has failed to give hope to the Zambians. Now Zambians have nowhere to ran to. Chiluba gave us hpoe against KK.
Mazoka Gave us hope against Chiluba. Sata gave us hope against Bwezani.
But this UPND is fake. For twenty years they can hardly produce a Manifesto as a promise to the electorate. Their Manifesto is violence and Insults.
And then they lace that with lies and manipulation of facts.
Fake.