UPND MPs protest Speaker’s ruling against Nkombo

Empty sits abandoned by protesting UPND MPs

Opposition UPND Members of Parliament this morning walked out of Parliament in protest against a ruling made by the Speaker Patrick Matibini against Mazabuka MP Garry Nkombo.

This was after the Speaker forced Mr Nkombo to withdraw a question he posed following a Ministerial statement by Housing and Infrastructure Minister Ronald Chitotela.

In his question, Mr. Nkombo wanted to dispute Mr. Chitotela’s suggestion that the corruption the PF government has been accused of in the road sector was only perception without proven evidence, by reminding him that President Edgar Lungu is on record of having hinted on dismissing corrupt Ministers.

But before Mr. Nkombo could justify his argument, Dr Matibini interjected by advising Mr. Nkombo not to involve President Lungu in the matter before the House.

Mr. Nkombo responded to the Speaker’s guidance by saying he would then withdraw both his question and President Lungu’s suggestion that there are corrupt Ministers in government.

Dr Matibini, however, insisted by ruling that Mr. Nkombo does not involve President Lungu in his debate forcing the Mazabuka lawmaker to opt to withdraw the whole question.

It was after this ruling that UPND MPs decided to walk out of the House in protest.

This prompted Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo to rise on a point of order seeking the speaker’s ruling on whether Mr Nkombo was in order to leave the house in the manner he did.

Justice Matibini has since reserved his ruling on the Point of Order