Rédaction Africa Links 24 with AUGUSTINE SICHULA
Published on 2024-02-17 05:36:19
The Edgar Lungu-led Patriotic Front (PF) has accused the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) of attempting to implement proxy-voting in Parliament. The claim was made by Mporokoso Member of Parliament, Brian Mundubile, who alleged that the UPND wants to exploit the weak and compromised Parliamentary system to introduce such a voting process. Mundubile voiced these concerns at a media briefing in Lusaka, which took place at the Parliamentary media center on Friday.
In response to the allegations, Mundubile proposed that rather than introducing proxy-voting, the UPND should consider implementing virtual-voting to be used in the absence of a Member of Parliament. He expressed his belief that the country’s Parliamentary system is currently compromised, weak, and failing to function properly.
According to Mundubile, the inability of Members of Parliament to debate issues affecting their constituents has resulted in a lack of parliamentary democracy in Zambia. He emphasized that this failure to engage in meaningful debate has had detrimental effects, leading to poor economic performance and a negative impact on the country as a whole.
Mundubile also drew attention to what he described as the abuse of standing order number 134 in the National Assembly by the Presiding Officers, which has led to frustration for Members of Parliament. He urged Zambians to take a stand against the plans put forth by the UPND, warning that they could potentially limit further parliamentary debates if implemented.
The Parliamentarian did not hesitate to assign blame to the current state of economic hardships in Zambia to the Parliament, asserting that the lack of debate and sharing of ideas on various issues by Members of Parliament has contributed to the challenges faced by the country.
It is evident that the PF is deeply concerned about the potential impact of the introduction of proxy-voting by the UPND, as they believe it could have far-reaching consequences for the functioning of Parliament and the democratic process in Zambia.
In conclusion, the PF is calling for a reevaluation of the proposed changes to the voting system in Parliament, and is urging citizens to take an active interest in the issue. The allegations made by the PF against the UPND highlight the ongoing political tensions in Zambia, and the need for a transparent and fair democratic process. It is clear that the debate surrounding proxy-voting and its potential implications will continue to be a point of contention in Zambian politics going forward.
Read the original article on Zambia Monitor
