The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has blocked the appointment of Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake as the deputy chief whip in Parliament, citing the absence of such a position within the Rules and Procedures of Parliament.
During Tuesday’s parliamentary sitting, the Speaker asked the opposition whip, John Baptist Nambeshe, to withdraw Zaake’s name as the deputy opposition whip.
The Speaker’s decision followed an attempt by Nambeshe to designate Zaake for two positions: shadow minister of presidency and security, as well as deputy chief whip.
“We don’t have that position (deputy chief whip) in our Rules of Procedure. We don’t have it; withdraw it. We have a whip who is yourself; we don’t have a deputy in our Rules of Procedure. That is air; if someone has been given air, that is air,” said Among.
Zaake, who is still battling cases with the Rules, Privileges, and Discipline Committee, was replaced as Commissioner of Parliament, two years after his removal by a section of legislators.