Female MP warned over 'improper' dressing in Parliament

ZAMBIA - Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mkhondo Lungu has cautioned Petauke Central member of Parliament Dora Siliya over her dressing. Mr Lungu on Thursday said MPs should dress properly in Parliament.

The Deputy Speaker said it is against Parliamentary etiquette for a member to be improperly dressed while attending sessions in chambers, as this demeans the status of the House. Mr Lungu, however, exercised restraint on Ms Siliya and just advised her to dress properly as she comes to Parliament in future.

The Deputy Speaker's caution followed a point of order raised by deputy minister of youth and sport and Mongu Central MP Nathaniel Mubukwanu (Patriotic Front), who demanded to know if Ms Siliya was in order to enter the chambers while "improperly" dressed.

Ms Siliya wore a tight black skirt, green silver sleeveless body top, black high-heeled shoes and silver bangles which matched her ear rings.

Mr Mubukwanu raised the point of order when Ms Siliya, who is former Minister of Transport and Communications,was on the floor of the House contributing to the 2013 budget of expenditure and estimates for the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.

In his ruling, Mr Lungu said MPs are not in order to enter Parliament while improperly dressed as this goes against parliamentary etiquette. "I want to once again urge the honourable members of Parliament to come to Parliament properly dressed to avoid breaching parliamentary rules and procedures," he said.

A jacket and tie are compulsory for male MPs while female MPs are required to cover up properly.

And Minister of Local Government and Housing Emerine Kabanshi said government will not interfere in the operations of the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) which was recently appointed by President Sata.

Ms Kabanshi said the government will allow the LGSC to work independently so that it can execute its mandate to improve the operations of councils in the country. She said government is concerned with the way some councils are operating as they are affecting service delivery.

Ms Kabanshi said the appointment of the LGSC commissioners will help to enhance service delivery in all the councils as the commission has been mandated, among many other things, to discipline local authorities which are not performing to the expectations of their communities.

She said this when she moved a motion of the 2013 budget of expenditure and estimates for the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.