M’membe slams jailing of Mfuwe MP, Mabonga
Dr. M’membe condemned the use of sedition charges against Ms Mabonga, calling it an unjust act that reflects an increasingly intolerant and authoritarian approach by the government.
He said the charges were politically motivated and intended to silence dissenting voices.
Dr. M’membe said the government’s reliance on colonial-era sedition laws represented a betrayal of the nation’s democratic values and an insult to the legacy of those who had fought for freedom and justice.
He argued that the continued application of such laws threatened not only opposition figures but also the rights of all citizens to express themselves freely.
According to Dr M’membe, Ms Mabonga’s imprisonment for her political views set a dangerous precedent and marked a growing trend of criminalising opposition speech.
He insisted that elected representatives must be allowed to speak for their constituents without fear of persecution.
“This is not merely about one individual,” Dr. M’membe stated. “It is about the soul of our democracy.”
Dr M’membe demanded for the immediate release of Ms Mabonga on bail pending appeal and called for all charges against her to be dropped.
He also urged the repeal of outdated sedition laws, which “have no place in a modern democratic society.”
Dr. M’membe pledged his firm commitment to resist injustice and continue advocating for democratic rights, declaring, “Injustice to one is an injustice to all.”
Zambian MPs in Kenya for benchmarking visit
By NATION REPORTER
BENCHMARKING exercise is crucial for strengthening Zambia’s oversight mechanisms for parastatal organisations, Dr Chitalu Chilufya has said.
Dr Chilufya is chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Parastatal Bodies.
The Mansa MP said this when his committee visited Kenya’s National Assembly for purposes of learning best practices.
“This benchmarking exercise is crucial for strengthening Zambia’s oversight mechanisms for parastatal organisations. Kenya’s experience offers valuable lessons that can inform our legislative approach,” Dr Chilufya said.
The meeting, held at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, provided an opportunity for the Zambian delegation to study Kenya’s parliamentary procedures and governance frameworks for monitoring parastatals.
Discussions centred on best practices in enhancing transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency in public sector institutions.
The Zambian delegation is expected to use the findings from the visit to enhance its oversight role and potentially recommend policy adjustments regarding Zambia’s parastatal sector.
Some of the members of the delegation included Brian Mundubile, Stephen Kampyongo and others.
The team met with Mr. Samuel Njoroge, the Clerk of Kenya’s National Assembly, as part of a benchmarking study tour on effective oversight of state corporations.
Key areas of focus for the tour included reviewing Kenya’s legal framework for parastatal supervision, examining tools for performance monitoring of state corporation and exploring strategies to improve service delivery in public institutions.
