Parliament Likely To Adjourn Today, Killing Bill 10

The Zambian Parliament is likely to close for business prematurely today owing to an outbreak of Covid-19 in the National Assembly. 

A number of MPs and staff have so far contracted the disease, with Mwansabombwe MP Rodgers Mwewa tragically passing away on Saturday. 

Yesterday the Standing Orders Committee agreed to adjourn the house on Tuesday, with no scheduled date for resuming proceedings. 

Clerk of the National Assembly Cecilia Mbewe has revealed that today’s session will also be carried out virtually, with no MPs expected at the National Assembly. 

Executive Director of the GEARS Initiative Macdonald Chipenzi has called the early adjournment of parliament the final nail in the coffin of Bill 10.

“It is with great excitement and joy to learn that the Standing Order Committee of Parliament has just resolved to adjourn the House sine die. This follows the covid-19 fatal attack on the members of the House and the institution in General leaving a trail of fatalities on the members of parliament and staff,” Mr Chipenzi wrote.

“This is as it should be and a sign of responsible leadership by the Committee and its presiding Officers. This means that Bill 10 is dusted and its funeral procession ending officially”. 

Mr Chipenzi concluded that this would allow parliament to focus on other important business, released from the fears and frustrations of Bill 10. 

“To our pro Bill 10 colleagues, democracy is democracy. The majority have won including Covid-19. You can now bring down your Billboards or replace the messages with other pertinent issues like COVID-19 fight. We will meet again over another controversial issue in future as these are never in short supply. Bill 10 is now over.”