Parliament Prepares To Re-open Next Month

Parliament is expected to open on Friday September 11, with President Edgar Lungu officiating. 

It closed for business just three weeks ago on July 21 following an outbreak of Covid-19 in the National Assembly.  

A number of MPs and staff contracted the disease, with Mwansabombwe MP Rodgers Mwewa tragically passing away. Following its closure the Ministry of Health confirmed that 15 MPs and 11 staff had tested positive. 

Parliament previously adjourned in March 2020 as a result of the pandemic, before resuming on June 9. 

According to reports in The Mast staff at the National Assembly are concerned for their health and that the virus continues to circulate among employees who are still expected to attend work while the MPs can stay at home. 

The paper quotes one source as stating, “Parliament was closed but the only people who are not reporting are the MPs. But it is open for us (members of staff). Now, one or two weeks ago, one of our colleagues died due to COVID-19… We were tested for COVID-19 and our results came only after 14 days and it’s from there that we knew that our colleague succumbed to COVID-19. People are afraid, trust me.” 

The source is reported as suggesting that workers could be re-infecting each other and suggested a full shutdown and fumigation should be undertaken.