Leader of the House, Richard Chimwendo Banda, has described second week of proceedings in the Chamber as progressive despite the House been suspended for 15 minutes on Friday.

According to Chimwendo Banda, the House has successfully deliberated in accordance to the week’s schedule.

Banda said: “It has been a very good week as you could see honourable ministers coming in the House presenting ministerial statements and also chairpersons from different committees presenting their reports.

“Members of Parliament have also managed to ask questions from their constituencies that needed ministers to respond.”

The Leader of the house also defended the absence of some cabinet ministers and members saying that they are engaged in other matters of national of importance and they do take leave of absence from his office and that of the Speaker.

“It all depends with the situation on that particular day, when it comes to ministers sometimes they attend functions that are pertinent and they do take leave of absence from the speaker and the Leader of the House and the same applies to MPs,” said Banda.

For MPs, there are quite a number of things happening around, it doesn’t necessarily mean that 193 people are going to be in the House all the times because there are also assignment happening.”

However, on Friday, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chief Whip Symon Vuwa Kaunda stood on a point of order asking on the absence of cabinet ministers in the house.

But Second Deputy Speaker of the House, Aisha Adams, ruled Vuwa Kaunda out of order saying that deliberations could proceed.