Speakers who can’t speak should step down
(Chants from disgruntled citizens outside the court. Atiyankhule! Atiyankhule Masipikala atiyankhule!!!!!)
Court Clerk: My Lord, today you were expected to hear from the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and his team why city councils are allowing sub-standard structures to be planted in their cities, but these citizens chanting outside say they want to see you as they have an urgent petition to present to you, My Lord.
Judge Mbadwa: Let in their leaders who will read the petition on behalf of others, but they have to remember to preserve the integrity of this Citizen Court by observing court decorum. The city structures issue can wait.
Court Clerk (calls in the leaders of the citizens): As I already indicated, this is a respected People’s Tribunal; hence, you should ask one representative to read the petition you have addressed to Honourable Judge Mbadwa.
Jomajoma: My name is Smooth Jomajoma, interim chairperson of the Disgruntled Citizens Group. I am ready to read the petition, which is addressed to you, My Lord.
From: Disgruntled Citizens Group
To: Judge Mbadwa, presiding judge of People’s Tribunal.
CC: Speaker of Parliament, Republican President, Director General of ACB, Head of Nyasaland Fiscal Police.
RE: Calling for the resignation of deputy speakers
My Lord, we the petitioners, want to call for the immediate resignation of the deputy speakers who have been accused of drawing millions of kwacha from taxpayers in rental allowances above their entitlement.
My Lord, since this issue came to the fore, the deputy speakers, despite initially saying they have not done any wrong, have chosen to keep mum.
We feel the two cannot stand on the high moral ground to lead sessions in the House tackling reports on Cashgate and or any financial mismanagement in government when they have not cleared themselves in these serious allegations. Assuming they are culpable, though we don’t believe they are, how different would their case be with those who defrauded government through dishonesty in a scandal christened Cashgate?
On the notion of moral turpitude, we, the citizens, feel the two should be recalled by their constituents, as they cannot represent the interests of the nation with the allegations hanging on their heads.
By the way, if you are not going to justifiably protest the withdrawal of the additional allowance, we will assume that you knowingly defrauded us taxpayers; hence, as per established worldwide standards, we will ask for a refund or the law will take its course.
My Lord, we feel voluntary resignation to pave the way for investigations would have been an ideal decision by the two, but it appears they are not ready to do so; hence, our petition that they must step down.
Lastly, My Lord, the House cannot have speakers who cannot speak. They have been quiet on this issue yet they are called speakers. So, if they cannot speak, it means they have lost the mandate of providing guidance to the House.
We know silence is golden, but in this case are we going to be wrong to say silence means consent?
Yours in solidarity,
The citizens.
Judge: Mbadwa: I have received the petition and will act on it. Thanks.
