Complaint against me malicious, intended to gag opposition MPs - Chisenga
JEAN Chisenga, the Mambilima Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament has described as part of the larger scheme aimed at gagging opposition Legislators complaint against her by Emmanuel Banda, the Muchinga Parliamentarian and has asked Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti not to entertain the purported complaint for its impropriety.
In a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Ms Chisenga has denied ever misconducting herself when she confronted President Hakainde Hichilema by calling him out as a liar because according to her, her Ba President Mwachilamo Ubufi stunt was not a disparaging remark but was a representation of the truth which she is ready to prove.
Ms Chisenga said the complaint against her by Mr Banda was not only inappropriate but was also a gross and malicious misapplication of procedure of the House as it came at the backdrop the Presiding officer having made a ruling on the same subject following a point of order by Northern Province Minister Leonard Mbao.
She stated that the filling of a complaint against her for confronting President Hichilema over his lies by another MP after the Presiding officer had made a ruling was but a scheme to silence divergent views as well as the checks and balances against the Executive.
“I am of the conviction that the purported complaint by Mr Banda is motivated misplaced spite, ill intent, and bad faith and lacks any amount of justification. It is part of the larger scheme aimed at gagging opposition MPs in the House from enjoying their freedom to independently and effectively participate in the business of the House, and carry out their constitutional mandate of representing Zambians who sent them to the National Assembly,” Ms Chisenga said.
She said the complaint against her as a matter of fact lacked merit as it was intended to violate her rights as an MP as well as preventing her from effectively and properly representing the people of Mambiolima Constituency and Zambia as a whole by providing checks and balances.
“I therefore urge the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly and by extension, the office of the Speaker Nelly Mutti not to entertain the purported complaint for impropriety as it came at the backdrop of an express ruling of the presiding officer on who was to file the complaint. Should the office of the Clerk or the Speaker of the National Assembly choose to proceed to subject me to any process, I hereby expressly reserve my right to present such evidence as will support my case as well as bring various witnesses to come and give evidence of the opinion they have formed of the discharge by of his Constitutional and legal functions so far as they relate to the campaign messages to which Zambians were feted,” Ms Chisenga said.
Ms Chisenga said she was vehemently and totally denying the basis of the purported complaint and all the reasons that had been advanced by Mr Banda, stating that she had remained silent and attentive while President Hichilema was delivering his speech.