Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Mike Mulongoti
People’s Party president Mike Mulongoti says the move by the Speaker of the National Assembly to suspend UPND Members of Parliament has disadvantaged the electorate in the affected constituencies who have been deprived of representation.
On Tuesday, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Patrick Matibini suspended 48 UPND Members of Parliament who boycotted President Edgar Lungu’s state of the Nation address to the House on March 17, 2017.
Mr. Mulongoti says there is no need for Parliament to continue seating when a large number of opposition Members of Parliament who are supposed to provide checks and balances in the house has been suspended.
And Republican Progressive Party President James Lukuku has charged that Parliament has lost its democratic value in the absence of the opposition voice.
Meanwhile New Congress Party president Pastor Peter Chanda says there is no need for the Speaker to suspend the sittings of the house because of what he termed as the unruly behavior of the UPND Members of Parliament not to respect the Head of State.
Pastor Chanda says the action against the erring UPND Parliamentarians was long overdue.