JAY JAY COMPLAINS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT PARLEY
…but Speaker Mutti curtails his complaint, guides that business of the House was around question number 203 on supplementary questions
EMMANUEL Jay Banda, the controversial Petauke Member of Parliament yesterday attracted the wrath of Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti when he insinuated that there is too much sexual harassment at Parliament.
Speaker Mutti had to immediately curtail Mr Banda when he strayed into the unchartered waters by claiming that there was so much sexual harassment at Parliament.
In his preamble to his follow-up question on whether Government had plans to revise the curriculum of the early childhood education, Mr Banda complained that MPs were not being allowed to speak against sexual harassment which he claimed was happening at Parliament.
But Speaker Mutti guided thus: “There is nothing else to say before you ask your question. The business right now is around question number 203, supplementary questions. Can you ask your supplementary question honourable member?”
In response, Mr Banda retorted: “Yes Madam Speaker, I represent the people of Petauke. I need to say something on their behalf because of what is happening here in Parliament. We are not allowed to speak. There is too much sexual harassment here .... ”
But Speaker Mutti abruptly interjected and cut Mr Banda off before giving the opportunity to Patriotic Front (PF) MP for Lundazi Brenda Nyirenda.
Mr Banda was later heard murmuring that there was too much sexual harassment at Parliament.
Meanwhile, Mr Sydney Mushanga, the PF Bwacha MP has demanded that the new dawn administration reverses its decision to move the headquarters of the Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) from Kabwe to Lusaka.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday during question time on matters of urgent public importance, Mr Mushanga said the decision to move the headquarters of the ZCS has had dire economic consequences for the people and businesses of Central Province in general.
“The relocation of the headquarters of Zambia Correctional Service has had implications on the people of Kabwe. Decentralisation will be affected and the business community will be affected. We, the people of Kabwe and Central Province at large demand that the headquarters be taken back to Kabwe,” Mr Mushanga said.
But Speaker Mutti dismissed the matter stating that it was not urgent and therefore did not fall in the ambit of the matter of urgent public importance.
“I do not see any catastrophe that will occur if the headquarters of the Zambia Correctional Service is not moved back to Kabwe. So, the matter does not qualify. Explore other ways to bring the matter to the attention of the executive,” Speaker Mutti said.