Attacks on Speaker unfounded – Mundubile

THE attacks on the Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini over his ruling that Parliament will proceed to consider the Constitution Amendment Bill number 10 of 2019 despite the matter being before the Constitutional Court are unfounded, Parliamentary Chief Whip Brian Mundubile has said.

Mr Mundubile said those attacking the Speaker lacked proper understanding of the provisions of the law.

He told the Daily Nation in an interview yesterday that the three arms of Government; Judiciary, Executive and Legislature operate independently.

He explained that it was wrong for any arm of Government to interfere in a matter which was before another arm of Government.

“So when there is a matter before court, that matter cannot be entertained before the floor of the House because, it is before another arm of Government and it is not competent to appear before the floor of the House.

“So stopping Parliament from making laws is interfering with the internal process of Parliament. Imagine what country we could have if anyone could just wake up and stop Parliament from making laws using the court?

“Clearly we are going to have the Judiciary interfering in the internal proceedings of Parliament, just as Parliament has avoided to deal with the internal processes of the Judiciary, so the two must not be misunderstood.

“Lack of understanding on this particular piece of law should not warrant attacks on Mr Speaker, the point he gave is solid and on firm ground on the point of law and it should not be misunderstood,” Mr Mundubile said.

He advised that the Speaker’s guidance should bring people together to dialogue further on possible constitutional amendments through the Parliamentary select committee.

Mr Mundubile has called on stakeholders to consult widely as they make their submissions on the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill Number 10, to the Select Committee.

And Mr. Mundubile disclosed that the differences between those supporting the resolutions of the National Dialogue Forum (NDF) and those opposed to it were becoming fewer by the day.

He said some of the earlier differences were on account of misinterpretation of the role and power of Parliament in the legislative process.