Speaker did not err – LAZ

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) says Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Patrick Matibini did not err when he declared the Kasama Central Parliamentary seat which was held by Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba vacant.

LAZ President George Chisanga has told QFM News in an exclusive interview that the Speaker of the National Assembly was within the confines of the law when he declared the Kasama seat vacant.

Mr. Chisanga explains that Article 71 (2) of the constitution states that when a Member of Parliament crosses floor by joining another political party, he immediately relinquishes his parliamentary seat.

Mr. Chisanga says in this case the former PF Kasama Central Member of Parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba relinquished his parliamentary seat when he ditched the Patriotic Front to join the opposition UPND.

But the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has argued that the Constitution does not allow the Speaker to breach it based on any precedents or powers of the Speaker as contained in any other legislation.

ALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza says the Speaker should have respected the provision of the Constitution and allowed the Courts to do their work in the case of Mr Mwamba who has a pending matter in court challenging his expulsion from the Patriotic Front.

Mr. Mwanza thinks the courts should therefore look at the action of the Speaker and guide accordingly and should it be found that Speaker breached the Constitution in declaring the Kasama Seat vacant, he should step down.