The Bill passed both its Second and Third Readings decisively, securing the required two-thirds majority. The final vote saw all 135 MPs present voting in favor. In a Facebook post, Mpundu, who had been a vocal and consistent opponent of the legislation, expressed deep personal anguish.
“There’s nothing as painful as betrayal. I have never felt this much pain. If this was all UPND, it would have been understandable, notabantu tulya nabo(not the people we eat with),” the lawmaker wrote.
His remarks underscore a significant political rift, suggesting that the bill’s passage was enabled not only by the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) but also by support from within opposition ranks. Throughout the legislative process, Mpundu had publicly and vehemently contested the bill’s legitimacy. The MP’s reaction highlights the tense and divisive political climate surrounding the constitutional amendments, marking a moment of significant political recalibration as the bill now moves to await the President’s assent.
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