PHILIP CHISALU
Lusaka
SPEAKER of National Assembly Nelly Mutti has urged the electorate to report members of Parliament (MPs) who ‘do not pick phone calls’ to the office of the clerk so that they can be ‘dealt with’.
And Ms Mutti has implored veteran parliamentarians not to intimidate new ones but mold them by using themselves as good examples through respectable conduct.
Ms Mutti said the true measure of a law-maker is not the title but the quality of service one renders.
The Speaker said MPs should always engage with the electorate and understand their priorities as opposed to imposing projects on them.
She said law-makers should, from time to time, avail themselves to the electorate to understand their needs to collectively attain development.
The Speaker said this when she opened an induction meeting of MPs of the 14th National Assembly.
The induction is intended to help the law-makers to understand both the work of the House and the institutional systems that support it and introduce them to rules, conventions and practices.
“Their [people’s] will has been expressed through your being here in Parliament, so when they make those calls, please, pick up. Those members of Parliament who don’t pick up your calls, please, approach the clerk’s office so that they can deal with that,” she said.
Ms Mutti urged law-makers to serve with integrity, leave a legacy that speaks for itself while ensuring effective functioning of constituency offices.
She further urged them to enter Parliament with a sense of duty, debate firmly but respectfully, disagree without becoming enemies and hold each other accountable.
Ms Mutti also called for robust debate and mutual respect, adding that the strength of the House will be judged not by the absence of differences, but by its ability to resolve them.
She reminded the MPs that the credibility of the House depends on their character, judgment and conduct.
The Speaker said the law makers should not overlook political interest when in Parliament by propagating issues that will benefit all Zambians.
While congratulating them, she assured the law-makers of her office’s support in their activities to ensure parliamentary effectiveness.
Ms Mutti also encouraged them to responsibly use parliamentary digital resources and artificial intelligence (AI) for effective service delivery.
Further, she urged MPs to support Grow Zambia Agenda and the Presidential Constituency Energy initiative.
And Clerk of National Assembly Loveness Mayaka assured MPs of continuous training to enhance their delivery skills.
Earlier, Natsave chief executive officer Gladys Chiwile encouraged MPs to work with the bank around financial inclusion and project development. https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
