Zambia’s parliament suspends MP for slapping fellow lawmaker

A Zambian Member of Parliament who doubles as a cabinet minister in Zambia has been suspended from parliamentary proceedings for a month after slapping a fellow lawmaker.

The Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo was suspended on Tuesday by the Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini for physically assaulting lawmaker Chishimba Kambwili last October, Reuters reports.

According to the Speaker, the suspension is to ensure that the honour, decorum and dignity of the House are protected and preserved. The victim, Kambwili who was dismissed in November 2016 as information and broadcasting minister, has accused officials of the government of corruption, an allegation the state denied.

He, however, claimed that Lusambo had slapped him twice after accusing him of making false accusations against the government.

Lusambo’s suspension means he is barred from accessing the grounds of parliament and using its facilities.
His allowances would also not be given to him during the one-month suspension period.