NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESS RELEASE

                                                                        For immediate release, 14th June, 2017

Members of the public have been asking questions on the suspension of the 48 UPND Members of Parliament who boycotted the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia. I wish to inform members of the public and the press that the Speaker of the National Assembly has, on resolution by the Assembly, power to suspend any Member of Parliament who have committed contempt of the Assembly of a serious nature for gross misconduct.  In this regard, section 28 of the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act Cap 12 of the Laws of Zambia provides as follows:

“28.     (1) Where a member is found to have committed a contempt of the

Assembly, whether specified in section nineteen or otherwise, the Speaker, the Committee on Privileges or a select committee appointed under subsection (6) may impose any one or more of the following penalties:

(a)    a formal warning;

(b)    an admonition;

(c)    a reprimand; and

(d)     an order directing the member to apologise to the Assembly, in a manner determined by the Assembly.

     (2) Where a member is found to have committed contempt of

the Assembly of a serious nature and none of the other penalties are sufficient for the contempt committed by the member, the Speaker shall, on the resolution of the Assembly, suspend the member from the Assembly for a period not exceeding thirty days.

(3) A member who is suspended from the Assembly shall, during the period of suspension and for the purposes of this Act -

(a)       not enter the precincts of the Assembly;

(b)       not participate in an activity of the Assembly or a committee; and

(c)        not be paid the salary or allowance the member is entitled to for

the member’s service as a member.”

It is clear from the provision of Section 28(2) of the Act that the Speaker’s decision is within the confines of the law.

I thank you

Cecilia N. Mbewe (Mrs)

ACTING CLERK OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

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National Assembly of Zambia, Parliament Buildings, Olympia Park, P O Box 31299, Lusaka

T:+260211292425-36 F:+260211292252 Web:www.parliament.gov.zm Email: info@parliament.gov.zm

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