Bring back Jay Jay – Umodzi Kum’mawa

By NATION REPORTER

IT is shocking, disappointing, and an undemocratic for Speaker Nelly Mutti to have given missing Petauke Central Independent Member of Parliament Emmanuel Jay Banda a seven-day ultimatum to show up in the House or have his seat declared vacant, Chanoda Ngwira has said.
Mr Ngwira, the spokesperson of the Kum’mawa Development Coalition said the grouping was deeply concerned by Ms Mutti’s statement because it was not backed by law.
“Suggesting to declare the seat vacant is constitutionally wrong, and the Speaker should not become the law unto herself.
“As far as we are concerned, and is the view of many people in his constituency, region, and nation at large, rather than expect ultimatums from the Speaker of the National Assembly, we expect proper explanations from the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, regards the progress they have made in investigating the whereabouts of Emmanuel JJ Banda, and bring him to his family, which they continue to torture mentally and physically,” he said.
Mr Ngwira said it was a blatant disregard for the welfare of Mr Banda’s constituency, Petauke Central.
He said it was also an affront to the country’s democratic principles as his missing had continued to deny the people of Petauke Central representation in national affairs.
Mr Ngwira alleged that the disappearance of the law maker was part of a continued machination of political expediency and the UPND’s appetite to increase parliamentary representation using illegal means, as had been the case in other parts of the country.