By 
Patriotic Front (PF) Mpika Central Member of Parliament, Francis Kapyanga, has been suspended for 14 days from Parliament after being found guilty of contempt of the House.
The suspension arises from an article published in a named daily tabloid under the headline “Stand as MP to Debate Freely, Kapyanga tells Mutti.”
In her ruling on Wednesday, Mutti said considering the gravity of the statement Kapyanga made and his failure to substantiate and the need to deter other members from such atrocious allegations, a stiffer punishment needed to be meted out.
She was of the considered view that Kapyanga should instead be suspended for 14 days from carrying out any parliamentary activities in and outside the house.
Mutti noted that the statement did not only bring the dignity of her office into disrepute but that of the entire house as well and constitutes a breach of parliament privileges and contempt of the house.
“Let me remind you and by extension the entire house that your right to freedom of speech is not absolute as it does not extend to unlawful speeches made outside the house or any libels published in the print media,” she warned.
Mutti urged Kapyanga and other lawmakers to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the dignity and decorum of the house in relation to their freedom of speech.
Citing section 28 (3) of the National Assembly (Power and privallages) Act, Mutti said Kapyanga shall not be paid the salary or the allowance that he was entitled to as the member of Parliament for a proscribed period before ordering him to take a walk of shame out of the house.
On Wednesday, July, 9, 2025, Mutti’s office received a letter of complaint from Dr. Clement Andeleki, Member of Parliament for Katombola Constituency, against Kapyanga, for remarks attributed to him published in the named daily tabloid dated Friday, July, 4, 2025, under the headline: “Stand as MP to Debate Freely, Kapyanga Tells Speaker Mutti.”
Andeleki asserted that in the detailed article Kapyanga was, among other things, quoted as accusing Mutti’ Office of bias against the Patriotic Front PF Members of Parliament when presiding over the House.
Andeleki reported that Kapyanga cited reasons for his assertions against Mutti’s Office such as frequent shout at opposition Members of Parliament, regardless of how constructive or objective their contributions.
Additionally, it was alleged that Mutti often ruled opposition Members out of order or cut them off mid-speech, while allowing even trivial matters raised by ruling party Members to proceed, and had failed to announce the rightful Leader of the Opposition despite receiving communication from the PF Party.
Andeleki further averred that Kapyang challenged Mutti to stand for election in 2026 so that she could freely participate in parliamentary debates.
The complainant contended that Kapyanga’s comments contravened section 19 (d) of the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act, Chapter 12 of the Laws of Zambia, and Standing Order 220 (2) (b) of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024.
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