RULING BY THE HON MADAM SPEAKER ON A POINT OF ORDER RAISED BY MR S KAMPYONGO, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR SHIWANG’ANDU CONSTITUENCY AGAINST HON R M PHIRI, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, ON WHETHER THE MINISTER WAS IN ORDER TO MISLEAD THE HOUSE WHEN HE STATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT PURCHASE FERTILISER DURING THE PREVIOUS FARMING SEASON WHEN HE WAS ON RECORD FOR HAVING CONFIRMED THAT GOVERNMENT SINGLE-SOURCED A COMPANY TO SUPPLY FERTILISER TO SOUTHERN PROVINCE AND OTHER REGIONS DURING THAT PERIOD
 

Hon Members, the House will recall that on Wednesday, 14th September, 2022, when the House was considering Question for Oral Answer No 8 on the Order Paper, and Hon R M Phiri, Minister of Agriculture, was on the Floor, Mr S Kamoyongo, Member of Parliament for Shiwang’andu Constituency raised a Point of Order. In his Point of Order, Mr S Kampyongo, MP, asked whether the Hon Minister was in order to mislead the House and the nation at large, by stating that this was the first time the Government was purchasing fertiliser. Mr S Kampyongo, MP, added that the Hon Minister was on record for informing the House that Government had single-sourced a company to supply fertiliser to Southern Province and some other regions, during the period.  

In my immediate response to the Point of Order, I informed Mr S Kampyongo, MP, that it was difficult for me to recall the alleged statement. I, then, asked the Hon Member whether he had any evidence to lay on the Table, to support his assertion, in order to assist me address the matter. In response, Mr S Kampyongo, MP, stated that he would provide the necessary information. For that reason, I reserved my ruling. 

Hon Members, despite his undertaking to provide evidence to support his Point of Order, Mr S Kampyongo, MP, has to date, not laid any such evidence on the Table. On that basis, my ruling is that the Point of Order is inadmissible. 

Hon Members, may I take this opportunity to guide the House that a Member who raises a Point of Order based on documentary evidence, is required to lay the document on the Table of the House soon after he or she raises the Point of Order.  Therefore, henceforth, I will not entertain any Point of Order which is based on a document if that document is not laid on the Table of the House.

I thank you.