PARLIAMENT HAS TODAY ADJOURNED SINE DIE

PARLIAMENT HAS TODAY ADJOURNED SINE DIE  WITH VICE  GEORGE KUNDA URGING OUTGOING PARLIAMENTARIANS  TO SAFEGUARD THE COUNTRY`S PEACE AS THE COUNTRY GOES TO THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

PRESIDENT RUPIAH BANDA IS AFTERWARD EXPECTED TO DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT AND SUBSEQUENTLY ANNOUNCE THE ELECTION DATE.

AMONG THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS SESSION WAS THE FAILURE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT  BILL  WHICH  ATTRACTED  MUCH CRITICISM FROM A CROSS SECTION  OF SOCIETY.

PF VICE PRESIDENT AND  LUSAKA CENTRAL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT DR GUY SCOTT TOLD THE HOUSE THAT THE EXCUTIVE BEARS THE BLAME ON THE FAILED CONSTITUTION  MAKING PROCESS.

DR SCOTT  ALSO REITERATED THE NEED FOR THE ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT TO BE PUT IN PLACE  AS THE COUNTRY GOES TO THE POLLS.

VICE PRESIDENT  GEORGE KUNDA HAS TOLD THE HOUSE THAT THE NATION WILL BE INFORMED ON THE DISPOSING OFF OF ASSETS OF FINANCE BANK ZAMBIA LIMITED.

SPEAKING DURING THE VICE PRESIDENT’S QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION MR. KUNDA EXPLAINED THAT THE PROCESS OF DISPOSING OFF FINANCE BANK ZAMBIA LIMITED IS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF BANK OF ZAMBIA WHOM HE SAID WILL IN TURN INFORM THE NATION ON THE STAGES.

AND EARLIER ON  IN RESPONDING TO A QUESTION FROM SINDA MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT LEVY NGOMA WHO WANTED TO KNOW THE STATUS OF FINANCE BANK ZAMBIA LIMITED, MR. KUNDA SAID THE BANK IS STILL SOUND AND HAS CONTINUED WITH ITS OPERATIONS DESPITE THE HURDLES   FACED IN THE RECENT PAST.

AND THE VICE PRESIDENT FURTHER  WARNED  THE CIVIL SERVANTS VYING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE THAT THE LAW WILL VISIT THEM IF THEY DO NOT RESIGN THEIR POSITIONS.

HE EXPLAINED THAT ANY CIVIL VYING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE SHOULD FIRST OF ALL RESIGN BEFORE APPLYING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE.

MR. KUNDA FURTHER CAUTIONED THAT THE RULING MMD WILL GIVE THE OPPOSITION A GOOD RUN FOR THEIR MONEY IN THIS YEAR’S TRIPARTITE ELECTIONS.

AND THE VICE PRESIDENT ALLEGED THAT THE MEDIA INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA ZAMBIAN CHAPTER IS BIASED AND THAT IT IS NOT A CREDIBLE ORGANIZATION.

MEANWHILE, THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING DISCLOSED THAT 21.99 BILLION KWACHA HAS BEEN LOST BY THE ZAMBIA CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES-INVESTMENT HOLDING, MUKUBA PENSION SCHEME AND NATIONAL PENSION SCHEME AUTHORITY IN THE FORM OF UNPAID BALANCES ON THE PURCHASE PRICE OF HOUSES SOLID TO SITTING TENANTS.

DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER CHILESHE KAPWEPWE  TOLD THE HOUSE THAT  THE LOSS WAS AS A RESULT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ISSUED IN APRIL, 2011 TO CANCEL THE BALANCES MENTIONED ABOVE.

MS KAPWEPWE FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT 4,224 HOUSING UNITS FOR THE THREE INSTITUTIONS HAS SINCE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE DIRECTIVE.

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