SPEAKER CAUTIONS MPS

SPEAKER of the National Assembly, Patrick Matibini yesterday cautioned Members of Parliament to ensure that the information they provide to the House, when debating, is factual and verifiable.

The caution by the speaker follows the failure by Mazabuka Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo to provide adequate information on time on his point on the Vice President, Ms Inonge Wina.

Mr Nkombo, had asked the Speaker to rule on whether the Vice-President was in order to mislead the House when she stated that she had only given one small boy what she called “the little change” when, in actual fact, she had given more than eight people during her tour of North-Western Province.

Mr Matibini said before the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly could retrieve the video footage from Mr Nkombo’s phone, he requested for it and undertook to avail the office the footage on a flash drive but however, Mr Nkombo has not submitted the footage to date.

In his ruling the Speaker said standing order 53 (1) of the National Assembly of

Zambia Standing Orders, 2016 provides that a member shall, in debating any matter, ensure that the information he or she provides to the House is factual and verifiable.

Additionally, that Chapter 3 of the National Assembly Member’s Handbook 2006 states that: Members must not allege specific matters of fact as being true unless they are able to substantiate them.

Mr Matibini said contrary to Mr Nkombo’s assertion that the Vice-President misled the House, Ms Wina was factual in her statement on the Floor of House.

“Consequently, I find that

Her Honour the Vice-President was not out of order and I therefore, wish to guide Members to ensure that before they raise a Point of Order, they should be in possession of accurate and complete information or facts,” The Speaker said.

Meanwhile, Parliament yesterday suspended standing orders 100 of 2016, standing orders 6 and 7 of 2019 and temporary standing orders of 2020, to allow the house to consider more than one stage of a Bill at the same sitting.

Parliament is expected to adjourn sine die to pave way for dissolution of the current parliament ahead of the General election on August 12, 2021.