LEADER of the Opposition in Parliament Brian Mundubile on Tuesday presented a copy of Times of Zambia newspaper as evidence that President Hakainde Hichilema said “he felt let down by his Ministers and Permanent Secretaries”.

During the Vice President’s question time on Friday, Vice-President Mutale Nalumango said she had not heard President Hichilema stating that he felt let down by his government officials and challenged anyone to produce evidence to the contrary.

But during business in the House, Tuesday, Mundubile rose on a point of order and placed the said newspaper on the table.

“I raise a point of order Pursuant to standing orders 65. Last week, Madam Speaker, when I posed a question to her Honour the Vice-President regarding the statement, His Excellency the President had made saying he had been let down by his Ministers and Permanent Secretaries. Her honour the Vice-President challenged me to produce evidence to that effect. What I have to today, Madam Speaker, is a newspaper dated February 10th, 2022 and the headline reads ‘HH feels let down, says appointments of Ministers and Permanent Secretaries in his new dawn government has so far not helped matters’. Madam Speaker, this is related to my colleagues on the right and these concerns were raised by the appointing authority, His Excellency the President following the bad performance of my colleagues on the right. I believe, Madam Speaker, this is very timely so that even as they conduct business in this House and outside, they continue to do so with diligence. I will now lay on the table this newspaper for easy reference,” said Mundubile.

In response, Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti said she needed time to look at the evidence.

“In view of the fact that the paper has just been raised on the table, there will be need to look at it and also to look at what the records say in terms of what were the proceedings, then I will render my ruling at a later date,” said Speaker Mutti.