Parliament starts, Speaker slaps DPP in the face

The sitting of Parliament started yesterday with a presentation of the state of the Nation address on the Capitol Hill looting by Vice President Khumbo Kachali.

Before the presentation of Kachali’s report on the Capitol Hill looting, the speaker had to slap his Democratic Progressive Party in the face after rejecting the party’s request that the opening of Parliament be postponed to a later day when the state President herself would be available to make the presentation.

The DPP leader in Parliament, George Chaponda, indicated that the party was not comfortable with the presentation of Kachali on the grounds that Kachali himself had his hands dipped into the scandal and thus, it was unfair for a person involved to make a presentation.

The request, however, was shot down by Speaker Henry Chimunthu-Banda who said that it was not procedural for the house to stop the Vice President over allegations. The speaker added that it was only if there was an impeachment motion on the floor against the Presidency that the Vice President could be stopped from making a statement.

Parliament was adjourned after the presentation by the Vice President and it is expected to resume today for comments on the address.