MPS SIT LIKE SARDINES
… Harrington cautions Bill 7 advocates against expanding an already overcrowded and costly Parliament
By Tony Nkhoma
FORMER Tourism minister William Harrington has urged Zambians advocating for Bill 7 to reflect seriously on the financial burden of maintaining an already bloated Parliament.
Speaking in a walk-in interview with The Mast, Harrington wondered where the 85 new Members of Parliament (MPs) would sit in parliament, as the current one would only accommodate 164 members.
Harrington said the United Party for National Development (UPND)’s intention to increase the number of MPs from 164 to 261 would be illogical, as the current seating arrangement was facing challenges.
He said the current parliament had no capacity to accommodate the proposed 85 new MPs.
“The thing is that if you create more constituencies in Parliament, there are questions that say, where are they going to sit? Look at Parliament, there are a few seats, where are the other seats going to come from? Because even the current small number of MPs sit like sardines, and increasing the number will worsen the situation,” Harrington said.
He questioned the UPND’s motive to undertake the delimitation of constituencies without considering the cost implications.
“I don’t agree with the delimitation. Delimitation in the constitution doesn’t say they must delimit, it says consider delimitation,” he said.
Harrington urged the UPND not to avoid constructive debate on the matter, saying the best government could do was to listen and take into account the concerns Zambians were raising.
“The cost of having the current eight nominated MPs is small compared to the cost of having 85 new MPs. The government should not avoid this debate,” he said.
Harrington said the new MPs would require new vehicles apart from allowances and gratuity, adding that the new financial calendar would not only put pressure on the treasury but also the taxpayers, who would be required to pay more to finance MPs.
He also said the proposal to do away with by-elections was a danger to democracy as it promoted dictatorship.
