MP weeps over ‘unsatisfactory’ answer
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) Kalabo Central Member of Parliament (MP) Chinga Miyutu yesterday caused laughter in Parliament after he wept claiming General Education Minister David Mabumba gave him an unsatisfactory response to his question.
Mr Miyutu asked in questions for oral answer, whether Government was aware Sihole Secondary School was not designed as an examination centre for 2018 final examination due to lack of a science laboratory.
In his response, Mr Mabumba said Government would consider designing the school as an examination centre in 2019. But Mr Miyutu was seemingly not satisfied with the response prompting him to sob as he attempted to make a follow-up question which impelled some members on the same bench to calm him with First Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Namugala endeavouring to know why he was weeping.
"I don't know how the minister is feeling in responding to my questions with those responses. That is the same Government which upgraded Sihole, the same Government is in charge of the Examination Council of Zambia, and the same Government after upgrading Sihole fails to provide the necessary requisites for that school to be eligible as an examination centre.
“Is the Minister aware that 60 Kilometres of walking is not worth it today in 2018, 54 years after independence? Is the minister aware that those children should not walk 60 kilometres? Is the minister aware that those children are suffering for nothing? They were not there for them to suffer this punishment," he wept.
Mr Mabumba however, explained that the school could not be conferred with examination centre status, because it lacked an operational science laboratory.
The minister said the school was in the process of acquiring laboratory equipment, adding that once this was done the school would be given recognition as an examination centre.
He assured the Kalabo Central MP that Government would do everything to address the situation at the school by 2019. "It is regrettable that my colleague has shown so much emotions, his concern is the concern of Government. But to put matters into context, Sihole Secondary School was not there at all. I want to assure him and the people of Kalabo that the children will not walk the 60 kilometres by 2019” he said.