Commotion : Opposition MPs heckle Speaker, force adjournment

This followed the Speaker’s decision to dismiss Mazabuka Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo’s follow up debate on Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba’s ministerial statement on the update with regards constitution making process.

The Speaker’s decision against Mr Nkombo did not go well with the opposition Members of Parliament who chose to boycott the subject of debate and the subsequent questions for oral answer session.

As the Speaker called out questions which were supposed to be asked by opposition Members of Parliament, the opposition lawmakers repeatedly chanted constitution.

This prompted Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili to rise on a point of order amidst continued heckling, on whether the opposition Members of Parliament were in order to disrupt the proceedings of the house with impunity contrary to the Guidelines and Standing Orders of the house.

In his ruling Dr Matibini noted that it was very clear from the conduct of the opposition Members of Parliament that they were no longer ready to transact thereby suspending business of the house.

Earlier in his ministerial statement Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba told the house that the PF has a national development agenda and that the constitution making process is but part of that agenda.

Mr Kabimba stated that government is dismayed with statements insinuating that the PF government lacks political will to deliver a constitution.

He also dismissed assertions that the country is polarized with regards the constitution.

Mr Kabimba further attributed the delay to release the draft constitution to the decision by the technical committee to take the draft constitution to his office instead of the President who is the appointing authority.

He says he is consulting with President Michael Sata on the handover of the draft constitution by the technical committee.