Given Lubinda questions process used to appoint Leader of Opposition in Parliament!
Former Patriotic Front Vice President Given Lubinda has called on the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity –NRPUP- to publicly clarify the process used to appoint the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, amid growing questions over the legitimacy of the decision.
Speaking in an interview with Phoenix News, Mr Lubinda says the matter must be resolved in accordance with Article 74(2) of the Constitution and Standing Order 45 of 2024, which provides the framework for selecting the Leader of the Opposition.
He says the key issue is whether NRPUP, as the largest opposition party in Parliament, followed its internal procedures in selecting the individual and whether the decision was communicated to the Speaker by an authorized party representative.
Mr Lubinda has questioned which party organ approved the appointment, whether it was the Central Committee or Parliamentary Caucus, and who formally submitted the name to the Speaker.
He says the Speaker cannot unilaterally appoint the Leader of the Opposition, arguing that the process must be initiated through formal communication from the relevant political party and its recognized channels.
Mr Lubinda has further stressed that unresolved leadership disputes within the opposition could weaken its ability to hold the government accountable, stressing the importance of constitutional compliance and due process in settling the matter.
-Phoenix FM