CDF motion dismissed

…as teachers with forged certificates face sacking

By OSCAR MALIPENGA PARLIAMENT yesterday dismissed a private members motion moved by Choma Central UPND Member of Parliament Cornelius Mweetwa urging government to expedite the enactment of legislation on the management, disbursement, utilisation and accountability of CDF in terms of Article 162(2) of the Constitution of Zambia.

This was after the motion was subjected to an electronic vote where 55 members voted against while 46 voted in favour of the motion.

Debating on the motion earlier, Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale and his Justice counterpart Given Lubinda alleged that the motion moved by Mr Mweetwa was done in bad faith as it was political.

Mr Mwale however assured MPs that the Patriotic Front (PF) government had not denied any member the disbursement of Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Mr Mwale, who is Chipangali PF Member of Parliament, said this yesterday when winding up debate on the motion.

Mazabuka Central MP Garry Nkombo alleged that the system was malfunctioning and proposed a physical vote which was not granted.

Justice minister Given Lubinda said all opposition members of Parliament had received at least 50 percent of CDF accept for 14 members who were Cabinet ministers.

Mr Lubinda said the Patriotic Front government was committed to releasing CDF to all the constituencies.

Parliament also heard yesterday that the Ministry of General Education has instituted disciplinary measures which might culminate into dismissal of over 500 teachers found with forged certificates.

And the House also heard that all motor vehicles carrying examination materials across Zambia would now be fitted with CCTV cameras in bid to alleviate examination malpractices.

The House was informed by minister of General Education Dr Dennis Wanchinga that a separate investigation was conducted and concluded by the ministry following the exposure by the Teaching Council of Zambia.

Responding to a question from MMD Serenje MP Maxwell Kabanda, Dr Wanchinga said disciplinary measures had been instituted and might culminate into dismissal of all the teachers found with forged certificates.

Meanwhile, Dr Wanchinga said his ministry and the Examination Council of Zambia were working together to ensure that proper records were maintained in the movement of examination materials.

He was responding to a question from Chitambo PF MP Remember Mutale who wanted to find out what measures government had put in place to overcome examination malpractices and if they had come up with stiffer punishment for the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, Dr Wanchinga earlier in his ministerial has banned the collection of statement from the ministry of General Education and Examination Council of Zambia but at respective schools where students wrote examinations from.