Speaker censures minister for giving unverified information

THE Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima out of order for accusing the previous Government of operating in a haphazard manner without providing evidence to support his statement.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti, made the ruling yesterday in response to a point of order by Lunte member of parliament, Mr Mutotwe Kafwaya, who accused Minister of Education, Douglas Syakalima of allegedly misleading the house and the nation at large on Thursday June 9, 2022.

“Evidently, the statement by the Minister of Education attempting to justify his statement by referring to a conversation he had had with some researchers who allegedly conducted a research in the country was not supported by any documentary or cogent evidence as envisaged by Standing Order 65. In view of this, the Hon Minister breached Standing Order 65 and was out of order,” the Speaker said.

Mr Kafwaya’s Point of Order was based on Standing Order No. 65, which required a member debating to ensure the information he or she provides to the House is factual and verifiable.

In raising the Point of Order, Mr Kafwaya stated, “Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister rose in arrogance and told us, who were hon. Ministers before, that we were doing things in the most haphazard manner and that his methodical Government is now doing things meticulously.”

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning was seated there. I saw him, and he mentioned 30,000 teachers. That was a definite number that required baseline information he could only get six months later. How did the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, who is in a meticulous United Party for National Development (UPND) Government, find the 30,000 teachers?

Mr Speaker, is that hon. Minister in order to be presenting information that cannot be verified?”