Opposition Members of Parliament continued their protest in demand of the new constitution by absconding from prosecuting questions listed on the order paper.
Vice President Guy Scott was forced to call for a premature adjournment after only one of the twenty questions listed on the order paper was asked by Chipili Patriotic Front MP Davies Mwila.
When the Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini called for the questions the MPs did not follow through forcing them to lapse.
Each time the Speaker called out for a question listed by an opposition MP, there were chants from the left side of lapsed.
Earlier, Matibini had announced that the highly anticipated meeting between the opposition and government side over the constitution impasse had taken place and had culminated into allowing Mazabuka Central UPND Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo to present a private member’s motion on Friday.
Nkombo had initially intended to present it on Wednesday but Matibini said the meeting had agreed that Friday would provide adequate time for consultation before the motion was tabled before parliament.
Lands Minister Harry Kalaba also raised a point of order asking the Speaker to rule on whether UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was in order to guide his MPs to continue protesting in parliament.
The Speaker said he had reserved ruling on the matter.
Meanwhile, the police had surrounded parliament building to quell any possible disruption by Patriotic Front cadres who had promised to descend on opposition MPs in the chamber if they continued demanding for a new constitution from the house.
The Patriotic Front has thrown the constitution making process in turmoil following their reneging on their campaign promise to deliver it within 90 days of being in power.
Nkombo’s motion reads: “The house should urge the government to provide a roadmap for the enactment of the constitution. Also expedite the process considering that the Technical Committee has finished and the report is ready for handover.”
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