Speaker of the National Assembly, Amusaa Mwanamwambwa, has threatened a one-day closure of the parliamentary
Chambers if the Members of Parliament (MPs) continue coming in late for deliberations.
Mr Mwanamwamba said it is unfair for the parliamentarians not to observe time but instead opt to come late to the chamber at the expense of national development and tax-payers’ money.
He noted that in the last sitting, five and half hours were lost, hours that were supposed to be utilized for deliberations.
The Speaker sounded the warning in the Parliament Chambers today when the law-makers entered late by three minutes after a 15-minutes break.
Parliament breaks off from 14:30hrs to 16:15 from Tuesday to Thursday, and on Fridays it resumes sittings in the mornings from 09:00hours to 13:00 hours.
The Speaker observed that it is unacceptable for the MPs to be coming late in the Chambers instead of being punctual for deliberations.
Mr Mwanamwamba reminded the House that in its previous sitting, the MPs were late by two minutes which translated in five hours and 30 minutes.
“It’s very unfair for MPs to continue with the same habit of late coming at the expense of tax-payers’ money. Last time I counted and two minutes by 158 MPs was lost and in total it translates into five hours and half. And today you have even added by another minute to make it three minutes. One day I will shut down this Chamber if you continue behaving like this,” the Speaker told parliamentarians.
The Speaker told the MPs that this was the last warning he would give them and his next action would be to simply shut the chambers down.
ZANIS
Well, it would be nice if he was this serious about actually getting things done.
Yay, nambala wanu and two ….
I wish the speaker had b*a*l*l*s. This f*o*o*l is definitely incompetent. Pass some good laws that will move the country forward and not this BS of making laws to fix individual or taking Zambians’ civil liberties away.
Maybe they should close the doors of parliament at a fixed date. Although that could be open to abuse by deliberately delaying MPs so they can’t vote. Or maybe they should pay a fine.
Is there anyone happy? Speaker is complaining, Radio Phoenix on sale, teachers, west MMD fcomplaining, Catholics unhappy. Yes, its only Senior Citizen who is happy!
Late coming is part of African culture.
These guys are not serious.
Just close the parliament…it’s not like any serious business goes on in there any way. Our leaders are such a shame and an embarassment. These no good politicians we’ll even be late for their own funerals. Ba mambala ba buteko imwe…brarishittie
slackers…sigh
do we even have a government? last i checked, the last government we had was led by LPM (MHSRIP) we just have a bunch of theives, crooks and political w.h.o.r.e.s. and h.u.l.e.s. (direct reference being made to Dora who has always been a w.h.o.r.e. starting from her days at Kabulonga Girls all the way to campus)
Do we need this parliament > just close it permanently and I will do their work with the help of VJ. no need to waste money on bitches like Mumbi phiri her hule friends.
What is strange about going late for appointments in Africa? closing Parliament based on that is ridiculous.It appears some bloggers dont know what Parliament does,pleade let us go back to our Civics books,am sure they will help
H