Kamlepo wants Deputy Speakers suspended
Member of Parliament for Rumphi East, Kamlepo Kalua, is this week expected to move a motion to have First and Second Deputy Speakers of Parliament [Esther Mcheka Chilenge and Clement Chiwaya respectively] suspended over their housing allowances saga.
A motion under notice seen by Nation on Sunday, dated March 10 2016, signed by Kalua, says the two have been involved in swindling money Parliament.
Reads part of the motion: “First Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker have been involved in swindling our august House of its hard -allocated money through dubious rental claims since their election to the high offices.”
The motion further says the matter has brought the high office of the Speaker into disrepute and it is a regressive step in the fight against corruption in the light of Cashgate under the previous People’s Party (PP) government.
According to Kalua, recognising the importance of the House to lead in the fight against corruption and in the spirit of Section 12(1)subsections A,B,C, and Section 13(o) of the Constitution, it is imperative for the House to suspend the two Deputy Speakers.
Mcheka Chilenje and Chiwaya were drawing millions of kwacha a year on rental allowances against their entitlements.
According to their Conditions of Service, a Deputy Speaker who resides or is privately accommodate is entitled to K250 000 per month. But if they are residing in a rented house they are entitled to a maximum of K550 000 per month.
However, the two are said to have been staying in personal houses between May and October 2014 while claiming allowances at maximum entitlement of someone staying in a rented house.
The Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) later resolved that the two should no longer be paid K550 000 per month, but K250 000 and they have not challenged the decision. Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Bureau is investigating the two Deputy Speakers. n
