By JAMES KUNDA – SPEAKER of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has directed Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila to issue a ministerial statement on the violence perpetrated by suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres in Bweengwa, Southern Province. Dr Matibini said Mr Mwila should appraise the House and the nation over the incident, which happened last Saturday, where Government officers, journalists and police officers were abducted after a public rally addressed by President Edgar Lungu. He said this in a ruling on a point of order raised by Kapiri Mposhi Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) Eddie Musonda yesterday. Mr Musonda expressed concern over the violence and questioned if Mr Mwila was in order not to appraise the House with the findings of the investigations, which were instituted after the incident. “My ruling is predictable. The Minister of Home Affairs should come with a statement,” Dr Matibini said. Prior to his ruling, Dr Matibini admonished Bweengwa UPND MP Highvie Hamududu for scoffing at Mr Musonda’s point of order. “Honourable member for Bweengwa, are you able to justify such a reaction? Dr Matibini asked. There is no way you can justify that reaction; you cannot,” Dr Matibini said. Immediately after the ruling, Mr Hamududu left the House, only to return minutes later. Meanwhile, the House heard that significant progress had been made towards the exploration of potential oil and gas deposits in selected parts of the country. Mines and Minerals Development deputy Minister Richard Musukwa said there were positive indicators of the country striking oil and gas in Northwestern and Western provinces. Mr Musukwa was responding to Kabompo West MP Ambrose Lufuma who wanted to know what progress had been made as regards the exercise in Kabompo, Chavuma and Zambezi districts and Western Province. Commerce, Trade and Industry deputy Minister Raymond Mpundu told the House, that 52,512 people had benefited from the citizens economic empowerment funds under the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) between 2007 and October 31, last year. Mr Mulenga, who was responding to a question by MMD Chadiza MP Allan Mbewe, said 41 people out of the total number of beneficiaries were those with disabilit