Namugala

By CHILA NAMAIKO –
FIRST Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Namugala has said the Government follows right channel through established institutions to deal with any matter of concern, either of the local or international nature.
Ms Namugala said it was important for members of Parliament (MPs) to realise that the Government did not rely on information circulating on social media to run its daily national affairs.
She said the Government always had a prudent way of making a follow-up or dealing with any matter through reputable institutions locally and internationally.
Ms Namugala explained that in an event where a citizen was caught up in a fracas in a foreign nation, the Government used correct channels of handling such matters through Zambian missions in those countries.
“Zambia is represented in South Africa through a mission and if a Zambian national feels endangered, it is only prudent to report to the mission in South Africa because Government does not rely on information on social media,” she said.
Ms Namugala said this on Tuesday in her ruling on a point of order raised by Monze Central United Party for National Development (UPND) Jack Mwiimbu.
Mr Mwiimbu wondered whether the Government was in order to remain quiet when there was information circulating on social media about South African nationals allegedly displacing foreigners such as Zambians to take up jobs.
But Ms Namugala advised parliamentarians and members of the public at large not to take it as gospel truth whatever was circulating on social media.
She said if there was a seemingly xenophobic incident in South Africa, the affected Zambian nationals living that country could have already reported the matter to the high commission representing the Government.