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{
    "id": 1349910,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1349910/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 254,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Permit me also to speak to the manner of handling firearms within the precincts of Parliament. I wish to remind you of Rule 8 of the Speaker's Rules which states as follows: “Members and visitors who are duly authorised to hold firearms must deposit them with the Serjeants-at-Arms at the time of entry and collect them at the time of leaving.” From where I sit, I may also wish to tell you that I have seen and been informed by some Members whom I believe that some Members licensed to bear firearms have been coming to this Chamber with them. It is a violation. Through the Leader of the Majority Party or the Leader of the Minority Party, whoever does that will be called upon and named to get appropriate discipline. Currently, a majority of Members dutifully comply with this Rule. However, it has been reported that a number of Members have on occasion failed to comply with the Rules. I want to repeat for those licensed to bear arms: when you enter the precincts of Parliament, your first point of call is the office of the Chief Serjeant-at-Arms who will take your firearm legitimately and hold it for you until the time when you leave. You can then retrieve it to go and use it wherever you want. It is quite distasteful for any Member to attempt to carry a firearm into the Chamber, a Committee sitting, the lounges, or dining areas at any time. For the security of all Members whilst within the precincts of Parliament, firearms must never be brought into these cited areas. The Chief Serjeant-at-Arms is hereby instructed to strictly enforce this directive at all times. In any case, the Government has given each one of you a security officer who bears arms. Why would you carry a secondary arm when you have an armed security man or woman with you? In summary, Hon. Members, I direct as follows: 1. That, all Members must observe Rule 9 of the Speaker’s Rules on dress code— not only in this Chamber but also in Committees, lounges, and dining areas. 2. That, Kaunda suit is not permitted in the Chamber, Committees, lounges and dining areas. 3. That, hats and caps for men are not permitted in the Chamber and in Committees. 4. That, traditional and cultural attire is not permitted in the Chamber, Committees, the lounges, and dining areas until such a time as— (a) There is an agreed standard national dress that manifests national cultures. (b) The House reviews its sartorial standards to define the bounds applicable to traditional or cultural attire in the dress code. (c) The Hon. Speaker may otherwise direct. 5. That, staff, accredited media representatives, and visitors to Parliament must be appropriately dressed and shall display their identification badges throughout their presence within the precincts of Parliament. 6. That, the Clerk of the National Assembly delineates and clearly marks areas in the restaurant for exclusive use by Members of Parliament. For the convenience of Members, no person other than a sitting Member of Parliament shall be permitted to areas designated for exclusive use by sitting Members, except with the leave of the Speaker. 7. That, the Clerks to the Houses of Parliament and the Director-General of the Parliamentary Joint Services implement the directives in this Communication without exception in their respective services. 8. That, the Catering Fund Management Committee hastens the process of putting in place Membership Rules to govern the use of Members’ restaurants. 9. That, the Clerk of the National Assembly circulates the Speaker’s Rules to all Members. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}