FDD president Edith Nawakwi has advised Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini to stay clear of partisan politics if he is to remain relevant in his position.
Nawakwi was speaking at a media briefing following Matibini’s summoning of All People’s Congress leader Nason Msoni to appear before a parliamentary select committee for comments made over the manner the debate over the constitution making process was handled in parliament.
“The Speaker is taking a partisan approach to the constitutional making process. The opposition political parties have noted with deepest concern and worry at the attitude of the Speaker of the National Assembly which he has exhibited towards citizens that have raised concerns over the way parliament conducted the debate of the constitution of our country,” said Nawakwi.
“The Speaker like any other public officer is a servant of the people and he is answerable to us the people who pay his salary. “
She added: “The case in point is the attempt by the Speaker to summon a number of us before his select committees to appear for us making comments outside the house. I must state here that I am a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association it is expected that in Commonwealth Parliamentary etiquette political parties have caucuses and in those caucuses political parties have what we call a three way whip, a whip in the house, a whip in the party and there is a there is the Speakers’ whip and political parties are expected to toe party lines.”
Matibini has shown bias in his handling of parliamentary business often sticking with the executive leaving his independence as merely an academic exercise.
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