The Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly will resume sitting on Tuesday 17th June, 2014. Parliament adjourned sine die on 11 March, this year after concluding business.
Clerk of the National Assembly, Doris Mwinga, has announced this in a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
“The Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly, which adjourned sine die on Tuesday, 11th March, 2014, will resume sitting on Tuesday 17th June, 2014,” Ms Mwinga said.
A private member’s motion was moved urging Government to provide a road-map for enactment of the new Constitution but failed to pass through in Parliament.
The motion moved by United Party for National Development (UPND) Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament (MP), Garry Nkombo, was passed to a vote but it saw the ruling bench winning by 69 votes against 42 from the opposition.
The motion urged Government to expedite the process of enacting a new constitution considering that the work of the technical committee had been completed and is ready for submission.
Home Affairs Minister, Ngosa Simbyakula, called for consensus to ensure Zambians had a long-lasting Constitution.
Dr Simbyakula, who is a nominated MP, defended saying the PF Government was doing what was best for the Zambian people regarding the Constitution-making process, and that a road-map was already in place.
The House adjourned sine die after suspending Standing Orders 20 and 21(1) and Standing Order 101 that enable it to complete business on the order paper.
The last session was marred with premature adjournments following the unruly behaviour by the opposition MPs and forced Speaker of the National Assembly, Patrick Matibini, to prematurely adjourn proceedings of the House on two occasions during that session.
Dr Matibini described the opposition MPs’ action to disrupt proceedings in the House as unruly and disorderly.
Because of disorderly behaviour, Dr Matibini threatened to invoke Standing Order number 70 which could have seen the parliamentarians being led out of the House by the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Zambia Police Officers were deployed around Parliament grounds to monitor the situation.
Parliament also unanimously ratified two Supreme Court Judges and five High Court Judges which President Michael Sata appointed to serve as puisne judges.
Those appointed are Justices Evans Mweembani Hamaundu and Albert Mark Wood as Supreme Court Judges while Justices Betty Mwaka Majula Mung’omba, Mrs Chilombo Maka-Phiri, Mr Mwila Chitabo, SC, Mr William Smith Mweemba and Mr Charles Chanda are High court judges.
The House also looked at some government bills.
Whether they sit or not, It doesn’t make any difference to any of us. Perhaps in the lives of prostitutes they patronize at Parliament Motel.
What purpose do they serve?