Speaker of the Zambian National Assembly Patrick Matibini has recently come under strong criticism from a cross section of society including opposition members of parliament for displaying traits of a PF cadre.
Opposition MPS from both the MMD and UPND even launched a series of walk-outs that resulted in premature adjournment of parliament to compel Dr Matibini to be neutral in his deliberations.
Yesterday, Dr Matibini, in a rare act of leadership yesterday censored Chongwe member of parliament Sylvia Masebo against using unparliamentary language when debating in the House.
Masebo, who in Zambian politics is referred to as a “cross-titute” for contesting one parliamentary seat on three different political parties, was boasting that some opposition MPs were not in good standing with the PF.
The former Zambia Republican Party, MMD and now PF parliamentarian, has assumed limelight in the ruling party after playing the role of a mole in Rupiah Banda’s regime.
Dr Matibini, who ordinarily has been ignoring point of orders by opposition MPs, showed some levels of impartiality by strongly advising Masebo that it was inappropriate for MPs to ‘label’ others names, adding that no parliamentarian should judge others because they are all members in good standing.
Dr Matibini said judgement of MPs does not fall in the jurisdiction of parliamentarians but his office.
This was after MMD Kasanengwa MP Victoria Kalima who raised a point of order against Chongwe Patriotic Front (PF) MP Sylvia Masebo who is also Tourism and Arts Minister whether she was in order to label other MPs as ‘in good standing with the PF government’ whilst some were labelled ‘not in good standing.
“It is not your task to judge other MPs. In fact it is inappropriate to label other MPs on how perceived they are. Every member of this House is of good standing,” Dr Matibini, who was floated to the position by PF propagandist and Post owner, Fred M’membe said.