Speaker Mutti Declines to Declare Seats Vacant, Cites Jurisdiction Limits

By Ruth Chayinda

Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti, says she cannot declare the seats of the parliamentarians vacant as it does not fall within her jurisdiction.

Ms. Mutti’s ruling is in response to a point of order raised by Nkana Member of Parliament, Binwell Mpundu, who wanted the seats of three PF MPs vacated for addressing officials of the UPND during the parliamentary by-elections in Petauke Central Constituency.

Ms. Mutti says that by declaring the seats vacant, she would be usurping the function of the judiciary as guided by the Constitution.

She has advised the parliamentarians to familiarize themselves with the National Assembly of Zambia standing orders.