Speaker rejects blame for question backlog

The Office of the Speaker has dismissed claims that National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is responsible for the growing backlog of unanswered parliamentary questions.

It says the delays lie with the executive rather than the presiding officer.

The response follows allegations by some members of parliament (MPs) that the speaker’s rulings have contributed to the increasing number of unanswered questions in the august House.

The office says 550 National Assembly questions have been tabled since the start of the eighth parliament.

Of these, one question was withdrawn to allow the responsible minister to deliver a ministerial statement, while 166 have been disposed of.