Speaker makes orders on beating of journalists, sale of zamtel
Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwnamwaambwa has ordered Communication and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa to update Parliament on the stage at which the privatisation of Zamtel has reached.
An Mr. Mwanamwambwa has ordered infomation minister Ronnie Shikapwasha to issue a ministerial statement on the reported beating of journalists.
Mr Mwanamwambwa said that it was imperative that members of Parliament had first hand information on the stages at which the privatisation of Zamtel had reached as opposed to getting information from members of the public.
The speaker made the order after Chipili Member of Parliament Davies Mwila (PF) rose on a point of order as to whether it was appropriate for the minister to be quiet particularly when debates on Zamtel were at the peak among members of the public.
Mr Mwila said that as MPs, it was appropriate for them to have first hand information on the privatisation of Zamtel and not to rely on information from members of the public.
“What is important is for the minister to update or appraise the House on what is going on regarding the status and the future of Zamtel. This House needs to be updated and the minister does not require several days. As early as next week let this House have an update,” Mr Mwanamwambwa said.
He also advised members to desist from participating in debates by the public saying their best medium of debates for MPs was in the House.
“I encourage members not to participate in debates because this is the best forum,”Mr Mwanamwambwa said.
Loading ...
Minister Lungwangwa does not even know the stage at which Zamtel privitatisation is becoz somebody has already signed the deal.No matter how much people talk that old man close to 80 years in state house will never listen becoz his life expectancy is closing in. He does not care!
I guess Zambia is the only country where every serious company is in the hands of foreigners.
A private ZAMTEL will be the best medicine for GRZ because it will teach them to pay their bills in time, failure to which all government operations will be at risk of grinding to a complete halt, should they delay payment or fail to pay, as is usual government practice.
Good decision making from the powers that be on the ZAMTEL sale.
What report does the speaker what MMD crooks to present to the house? Forget it, Zamtel is sold and gone for no reason. We seem not learn, Zambian Airways was sold for a song. This country is one country without a national carrier in Sub Sahara Africa.
Now we have sold Zamtel because of greed by RB and his cronies. Why compromise on national security of Zambia when Zamtel can be repositioned to a viable institution if only its let to run without political interferance. We all know the answer, its government to let Zamtel run as a business without RB appoiting cadres to manage it. Foolish ideas by our short sighted leaders in RB and his cronies.
these two ministers are a disgrace to their respective field of “expertise”…..i.e. military and academia…they failed to manage ZAF ‘n’ UNZA….wot on earth made either the late president L.P. Mwanawasa and current R.B. Banda think they could make any positive contributions to the nation as ministers????…..can we get serious….there is no shortage of Generals and professors who can truly make this country tick…..can we please stop entrusting our beloved country’s affairs to failures!!!!!
Coming from a professor, I expected him to present a convincing business case why the sale has to go on. Fortunately the speaker has also noticed.
very good speaker.these guys should not be quiet in the parliament.Let them explain. And shikapwasha i need you answer on the beatings. If it was PF you could have said something already.
Jimmy,
If they will be paid at all! Where will they get the money to pay, if they are dispensing with a cash cow like ZAMTEL? All this Government needed was reposition the management of ZAMTEL in order for it to function efficiently.
Whoever Government is selling the company to knows he or she will be rolling in billions of kwacha.
Do you remember what former Vice-President Lupando Mwape once said? Ubupumbu mu chalo (Foolishness in the nation). We have lost control of our own riches. Those who govern us steal from us through corruption, and then they give our wealth to foreigners as if Zambians have no need of it. Owe! Ubulanda!
You see education does not bring wisdom, this Professor is a case in point. The most educated dull minister to ride our flagged cars.
This man, Lungwangwa failed to make UNZA tick as a d vc and levy saw a great leader in him by honoring him a ministerial post. Its these “immature” matures who got their degrees in old age that are a thorn in the zambian flesh. I expected a proffessor to think widely and in depth before uttering any word but not with lungwangwa, so greed a chap that he literally ripped unza apart
Well, the decision of selling zamtel is final. But my question is why has govt not paid what it owes in terms of phone bills? remember in many parastatal companies govt is the number one culprit. Zambia is trading on dangerous grounds with the so called privatization programes which have only produced disastrous results. I bet more people will die of depression related illnesses as their terminal benefits will definitely be paid after they are part of the soil.