LUSAKA – Nkana Member of Parliament Binwell Mpundu took to social media yesterday to voice profound frustration and a sense of personal betrayal following the successful passage of Constitution Amendment Bill 7 in Parliament.
The Bill passed both its Second and Third Readings decisively, securing the required two-thirds majority. The final vote saw all 135 MPs present voting in favor.
In a Facebook post, Mpundu, who had been a vocal and consistent opponent of the legislation, expressed deep personal anguish. “There’s nothing as painful as betrayal. I have never felt this much pain. If this was all UPND, it would have been understandable, not abantu tulya nabo (not the people we eat with),” the lawmaker wrote.
His remarks underscore a significant political rift, suggesting that the bill’s passage was enabled not only by the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) but also by support from within opposition ranks. Throughout the legislative process, Mpundu had publicly and vehemently contested the bill’s legitimacy.
The MP’s reaction highlights the tense and divisive political climate surrounding the constitutional amendments, marking a moment of significant political recalibration as the bill now moves to await the President’s assent.
You need to transition from academic, deceptive and insulting debates that aim at impressing the gallery to mature, disciplined and developmental debates that aim at transforming people’s lives.
Please do also respect rules and regulations. Perhaps this is why the PF did not adopt you and why you are often suspended.