Öafter Davison Mungíandu accused Binwell Mpundu of being responsible for the abduction of Jay Jay Banda and his eventual mysterious disappearance from Chipata Central Hospital
By BARNABAS ZULU
THERE was a brawl in Parliament yesterday after Davison Mung’andu, the Chama South Member of Parliament accused Binwell Mpundu and Patriotic Front (PF) MPs of abducting Emmanuel Jay Banda and facilitating his escape from Chipata Central Hospital.
And Mr Mpundu, the Independent MP for Nkana said had it not been for his Christian background and Parliament being a house of etiquette and decorum, he would have physically confronted Mr Mung’andu for his uncalled for behaviour.
Mr Mung’andu, one of the rebel PF MPs, who has aligned himself with the UPND accused Mr Mpundu and other opposition MPs of being responsible for the abduction of Jay Banda, claiming that he knew the people who facilitated the disappearance of the former Independent Petauke lawmaker.
Mr Mung’andu who stood on a point of order and in an attempt to maliciously demonise the PF MPs, claimed the State was not allegedly involved in the abduction and eventual mysterious disappearance of Mr Banda but that Mr Mpundu and other lawmakers were in fact responsible.
“When people in the villages hear us, especially Members of Parliament, they believe. It has been repeated several times that the disappearance of Jay Jay from the hospital was by the government yet Honourable Binwell Mpundu knows very well that they themselves were behind it. They were behind the disappearance of Jay Jay (Banda). They are responsible,” Mr Mung’andu said before he was curtailed by Deputy Speaker Malungo Chisangano.
His accusations infuriated Mr Mpundu and other opposition MPs resulting into a near punch-up between the two lawmakers in the House.
Mr Mpundu was also enraged that Ms Chisangano only admonished Mr Mung’andu instead of sending him out of the House for his unpalatable accusations.
Ms Chisangano instead sent Mr Mpundu out of the House but in solidarity, other opposition MPs walked out in protest.
When contacted, Mr Mpundu described his ejection from Parliament as extremely unfair.
He said it was shocking that Ms Chisangano decided to send him out of the House when it was Mr Mung’andu who should have been punished for his uncouth behaviour.
“Yes, Mung’andu may enjoy parliamentary immunity but it was him who was supposed to be chased from the House. He provoked me when he accused me of abducting Jay Jay Banda. I did not commit any crime yet I became a victim of the Speaker’s decision,” Mr Mpundu said.
He alleged that the Speaker’s decision showed that it was the UPND that was guilty in the abduction of Jay Jay Banda
Mr Mpundu said all he wanted to know was why Government saw small crimes by the opposition yet they were not able to detect serious crimes using the cameras that were set up all over the city.
“Cameras are working and I did not accuse government of abducting anyone. They are worried about my checks and balances. I have enough evidence to that effect,” he said.
Mr Mpundu said with the street cameras at work under the Safe City Project, it should have been easier for government to know who had abducted Mr Banda, the former Petauke Central Member of Parliament.
And Mr Mpundu has said had it not been for his Christian background and Parliament being a house of etiquette and decorum, he would have physically confronted Mr Mungandu. For his uncalled for behavioUr.
At media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Mr. Mpundu expressed his frustration, saying; “Interesting today, I get abused by Honourable Mung’andu. I get defamed. Under the guise of parliamentary privileges, Honourable Mung’andu today goes scot-free by defaming me, abusing me right in the presence of the Speaker.”
“He is protected by the Speaker, continues to spew hatred on me to the extent of saying that I was the one responsible for Jay Jay running away from the hospital in Chipata. For me that is a crime.”
“Honourable Mung’andu is today suggesting that I am the criminal behind the disappearance of Jay Jay from the hospital in Chipata and the Speaker is shielding him…the Speaker shields Mung’andu and decides to send me away. What did I do? The only thing I did was to protest.”
