Political analysts say they fear the current political standoff in Parliament may lead to half-baked deliberations.
Parliament was in a state of chaos on Monday and Tuesday following a standoff among DPP legislators, who were protesting the Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara’s decision to recognise Kondwani Nankhumwa as Leader of Opposition in the House and not Mary Navicha, who was recently appointed by DPP.
According to the Speaker, the decision was made based on a court order which Nankhumwa obtained.
This did not go down well with some DPP legislators, who insisted that Navicha should be the one getting recognition as Leader Opposition and not Nankhumwa, who is contesting his firing from the party.
In the ensuing stand-off, the Speaker sent Navicha and other legislators, namely Grace Kwelepeta, Sameer Suleman and Thoko Tembo out of the House for perpetrating chaos.
On Tuesday, she added 16 more legislators to her list of suspended MPs, a development has some political analysts worried in as far as the conduct of business in the House is concerned.
Analyst Victor Chipofya Jnr fears what is happening may affect the forthcoming budget deliberations.
Chipofya’s fears are shared by another political analyst, Wonderful Mkutche, who argued that what is happening may lead to half-baked discussions.
The squabbles by the DPP are likely to continue until the courts decide on Nankhumwa’s application restraining the DPP from expelling him from the party.
High Court Judge William Msiska on Monday reserved a ruling on Nankhumwa’s application to a later date.
