THE National Assembly has given Petauke Independent MP Emmanuel Jay Jay Banda a seven-day ultimatum to attend parliamentary sittings or lose his seat. This was after Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti subjected the recommendations of the Committee on Privileges and Absences on Banda’s continued absence from the August House to a vote. Banda is a fugitive who escaped from police custody while receiving medical treatment at Chipata General Hospital in early August. In October, Banda’s absence from the House prompted UPND Katombola MP Clement Andeleki to raise a point of order on his status as a parliamentarian, which then drove the Speaker to subject the issue to an inquiry by the Committee on Privileges and Absences. On Tuesday,...