Senate to convene 3-day special sitting to debate on coalition Bill
The Senate will from today convene a three-day special sitting to debate on the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
This is after the Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka gazetted the sittings which will begin today at 2.30 pm to January 27, 2022.
“Notice is given to all senators that pursuant to Standing Order 30 (1) of the Senate Standing Orders, on the request of the Senate Majority Leader, with support of the requisite number of senators, I have appointed Tuesday, 25th January 2022, Wednesday, 26th January 2022 and Thursday, 27th January 2022 as days for special sittings of the Senate,” the notice reads.
The sitting will consider the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, the Heritage and Museums Bill, the County Governments (Amendment) Bill, the Intergovernmental Relations (Amendment) Bill and the County Oversight and Accountability Bill.
The County Governments (Amendment) Bill, the Intergovernmental Relations (Amendment) Bill and the County Oversight and Accountability Bill will also be debated.
The Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2021, was introduced for first reading on January 11, and immediately committed to the House Justice and Legal Affairs Committee by Speaker Kenneth Lusaka to conduct public participation.
The public had until last week Wednesday, to submit their views.
The Bill, which seeks to create coalition political parties, was passed by the National Assembly in chaotic and violent sittings earlier in the month.
This comes weeks after MPs passed the Political Parties (Amendment) The Bill is set to proceed for a second reading and the Senate Justice and Legal Affairs is expected to table its report following a two-day public hearing.
The sittings will run from 2:30 pm on the first two days but on the final day, the sitting will start at 10 am break for lunch then resume at half-past two.
Afterwards, the Senate shall stand adjourned until Tuesday, February 8 this year, paving way for the formation of a coalition party.
