CONVICTED KANG’OMBE REMAINS MP – SPEAKER

By OLIVER SAMBOKO SPEAKER of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini yesterday ruled that Mr Romeo Kang’ombe is still Member of Parliament for Sesheke constituency despite his conviction. He was last week convicted by the Chinsali Magistrates’ Court for assaulting two police officers and handed a 12-month-long suspended sentence for two years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during that period. The Speaker’s followed a point of order raised by Deputy Chief Whip Tutwa Ngulube on whether Mr Kang’ombe, was in order to remain in the House after his conviction. In his point of order, Mr Ngulube cited Article 70(2)(f) of the Constitution of Zambia, which states that when a person is convicted by a court of law, he/she becomes a convict and, as such, is disqualified from being a Member of Parliament. But in his ruling the Speaker said the law governing the vacation of a seat by a MP is encapsulated in Article 72(2) of the Constitution of Zambia, Chapter 1 of the Laws of Zambia. He said following the suspension of Mr Kang’ombe’s sentence for two years, the implication is that he will only serve the term of imprisonment, in the event that he breached the condition imposed by the court. The Speaker, therefore, noted that Mr Kang ombe was not serving a sentence of imprisonment as envisioned by Article 70(2) (f) of the Constitution. Dr Matibini said Mr Kang’ombe would remain MP.