IT’S AWKWARD TO SUSPEND A LAW MAKER FOR TELLING THE TRUTH - PHIRI
SUSPENDING a lawmaker from Parliament for telling the truth is embarrassing, sad and shocking, says Mumbi Phiri, the former Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary General.
This is in reference to the suspension of Mambilima Member of Parliament, Jean Chisenga, from parliament for 30 days for confronting President Hakainde Hichilema that he is not being honest with people.
Ms Phiri said in an interview that the suspension is embarrassing to parliamentarians.
As far as Ms Phiri is concerned, Ms Chisenga spoke the truth.
She recalled a time when the United Party for National Development (UPND) laughed at former republican President, Michael Sata, when he went to parliament sick, but no one suspended them.
She said the suspension of Ms Chisenga is a sad development, especially when she did not break the law.
“When UPND was in opposition then, they laughed at former republican President Michael Sata when he appeared at parliament sick and in a fragile state but no one suspended them, why should they suspend Ms Chisenga for telling the truth,” she said.
Ms Phiri is also shocked that all the women’s groups are quiet about the matter and watching when a fellow woman is being harassed.
“What is surprising and shocking is that where are the women’s organisations which are supposed to represent us, the likes of NGOCC are quiet, Women’s Lobby Group, Women for Change and the women movement all are quiet. We have reached a point where these organisations have become quiet to speak for the women who are being harassed for fear of the unknown,” she said.
Ms Phiri said: “The President promised and never fulfilled promises and when one called him a liar they got suspended … the suspension of Madam Chisenga was not right. We need women’s groups to talk about it.”