Kambwili is NDC interim president, Lusambo tells Parliament

…but Speaker rules him offside

By OSCAR MALIPENGA COPPERBELT Minister Bowman Lusambo yesterday alleged that Roan member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili was the interim president of National Democratic Congress (NDC) while at the same masquerading as a Patriotic Front (PF) lawmaker.

In a point of order, Mr Lusambo alleged that Mr Kambwili was interim president for NDC following his address to party members in Kitwe last weekend.

Mr Lusambo, who is Kabushi PF MP wanted to find out whether Mr Kambwili was in order to be masquerading in Parliament as a member of PF when in fact he was an interim president for NDC.

He (Lusambo) laid on the table evidence that Mr Kambwili addressed NDC members and that he was an interim president of the party which was recently registered by expelled PF Central Committee member Mwenya Musenge.

But in his ruling, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini said although Mr Kambwili had been expelled from PF, the matter was active in the High Court as he had gone to challenge the decision.

“My ruling, as you are obviously aware Hon. Chishimba Kambwili was expelled by PF but he proceeded to challenge the expulsion. “Whenever an MP is subjected to expulsion and proceed to the High Court that expulsion does not affect his membership until when the matter is finally disposed of,” Dr Matibini said.

Dr Matibini said interactions and engagements that took place outside Parliament was none of his business.

“I have no control, I have no jurisdiction on which political party you relate with,” he said.

Dr Matibini said the matter raised by Mr Lusambo was a matter of party discipline, adding that he does not deal with matters of party discipline as they were internal.