Wed, 15 Mar 2017 12:16:09 +0000
By MUKOSELA KASALWE
CHISHIMBA Kambwili was out of order for making a personal attack and using disrespectful as well as unparliamentary language against Copperbelt Province Minister Bowman Lusambo, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick
Matibini has said.
Dr. Matibini in his ruling yesterday, on a point of order which was raised by Mr. Kambwili who alleged that the article in the Daily Nation Newspaper of December 16, 2016 had misrepresented facts and asked whether Chief Whip Richard Musukwa was in order not to cite the newspaper for contempt of the House for misrepresentation and for not referring the matter to the Committee on Privileges,
Absences and Support
Services.
In a 17 paged ruling, Dr. Matibini said that if any member of the House was provoked by the conduct of another, there were correct procedures which were supposed to be taken to bring that member’s conduct in line and stated that by making a personal attack and using disrespectful and unparliamentary language against Mr Lusambo, Mr Chishimba was out of order.
He said that MPs should maintain their temperament at all times and be moderate as well as modest in their debate and conduct.
The Speaker said that he had made his ruling after having had studied the matter as well as having had recourse to the full article by the Daily Nation and a verbatim record of the House on Mr Kambwili’s debate.
He said that a careful study of the two documents raised three pertinent issues namely, MPs making running commentaries during debate in the House, language of debate in the House, and Constitutional right of the public to comment on proceedings of the House and the manner of commenting.
“I have always guided that, if a member is provoked by another member’s conduct, correct procedures should be employed to bring the member’s conduct in line.
“In this regard, by making a personal attack and using disrespectful and unparliamentary language against the Hon Minister, Mr Kambwili MP, was himself out of order,” Dr. Matibini said.
The Speaker ruled that Mr Musukwa was not out of order not to cite the Daily Nation for the said article and for not referring the matter to the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services.
He, however, cautioned the media and in particular the Daily Nation that the freedom of the press guaranteed under Article 20 of the Constitution of Zambia placed a duty on them to report responsibly as well as accurately.
Meanwhile, commenting on assertions by Mr Kambwili that the Daily Nation was determined to end his political career, Zambia Republican Party president Wright Musoma said that it was the parliamentarian who was destroying his own political career by failing to read the political times and atmosphere.
He said that Mr Kambwili was making a big mistake by attacking the Daily Nation, saying that the tabloid was merely doing its job.
