Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) leader Edith Nawakwi says the indication by the technical committee drafting the country’s constitution that it will include the 50 plus 1 clause in the draft is welcome.
Ms. Nawakwi says it is only wise that the technical committee considers most of the submissions made because the country can only progress if the outstanding issues are addressed.
In an interview with QFM, Ms. Nawakwi said the 50 plus 1 clause and making elective the position of vice president, were the main point of difference between the opposition and the former ruling party, the MMD.
She said it is honorary to listen to the calls of the people, especially on the submissions they have made to the constitution making process.
The FDD leader has since called for a quickened constitution making process for the country to move forward.
[QFM]
That is great news. There should be a run off is a candidate does not obtain 50 percent of the votes. The vice president should also be elected.
Edith bunda bwa fitenge. She had so much potential to lead Zambia, but she blew it. Now shut up and go and buy more fitenge. You and Catherine Namugala are hopeless.
How did she blow it?
No no no no no no no no no Nubian princess. Edith did not blow it. She, along with others, was dribbled by Chiluba through Sata for opposing the third term.
@Nubian Princess you are a dull person. You are a wasted sperm. What is wrong with what Nawakwi has said. Must be ashamed of your self for being so dull on simple things.
Your Mama
@BA164….are you that shallow…insulting someone you can’t see and don’t know…sounding like a smart ass wannabe…c’mon man. be civil.
Last time we spent too much money on this process and went ahead to have it rejected in parliament because the MMD manipulated the constitution. The MMD only entertained what suited the thanks to GK MHSRIP. I do not see this process failing again if the submissions made by the people are met. I hope the PF gorvrment does not get greedy and end up wasting more of our money.
Sorry, but going by previous election results 50 plus one won’t fly. And Edith should be the last person to support it because there will be more damaged votes than will be people voting for her chitenge covered behind.
The costs, logistics and fatigue in the electorate in operating a run-off when 50 plus one fails do not allow this wishful thinking. Zambias democracy needs to grow before we start thinking 50 plus one
#3 – You are the dull one for not accepting other people’s opinions. Didn’t your mother teach you any manners? Your father’s wasted his sperm making you
50+1 is the way to go period!
Pity the foo!s who think a leader elected in this way has more legitimacy or better delivery than any other way. Dream on a**h***e
Wonder how it would have faired at Sept 2011. Would PF have won the elections at teh re-run?
So ukwa will be out in 2016…50+1
#8 Sata will not be out. What will happen is the top two contenders will re-contest. Sata will get 40% of the vote and who ever will get higher between HH and whatever remains in MMD will stand head on with Sata. then we will have the “free” votes shared. But I do not think think you understand maths if you can refer to the republican president as Ukwa
That is a weird 50%+1! Â There should be a rerun between the top two contenders to arrive at the ultimate winner. Â Any other mishmash tactic to retain Ukwa will be repealed by the next govt. Â I know the maths and we still have Ukwa in Sata House!
Knowledge is great. You only know what you have seen, heard, felt, tasted or smelt. The five senses give us the learning experienced. But you only know what you have been exposed to, no more. Unless you keep your senses open to new teachings by nature and nurture you will have a limited view of what this world can offer. There is a lot you can learn both within Zambia and outwith Zambia. This why exposure is very very necessary for each and everyone’s personal development. Do not be inward my friend, explore there many aspects of life, there are a lot to learn. Some political happenings are a result of partial or lack of understanding by those involved. Â Take political insults, most of those peddling such have very restricted understanding.Â
…and your opinion on the 50+1 clause is?
Do not be excited in African politics one can never just win more than 50%, this will just increase manipulation and rigging of elections by any ruling party or formation of coalition governments (New dimension pa Zed)….mark my words…but nonetheless the majority wins under the definition of democracy…. maturing in the wrong way…damn
This is a very good trap for UKWA.
50+1 is the way to go if we want to have a better Zambia tomorrow, the committe should be factual and let them speed up the process because they are wasting our resources.
Well spoken Edith. At least you are sensible than ka UNDER 5. This 50%+1 is not a trap for anyone naimwe ba #11 PF Mutale. This is simple mathematics which can favour the ruling party. Chances are that SATA will even win with this clause in place.
50+1 is the only way forward to put a credible and strong president who will push zambia forward. costs are irrelevant as the gains from having a popularly elected president are immense. I wonder why someone should fear 50+1 when we had it until Chiluba removed it.
Good Preside Nawakwi, very good observation, the country has been o this copnstitutional cross roads for too long. Today Nicholas Sarkozy of France has a chance to try and fight for his Presidency because of 50+1, he was beaten by less than 2% in the first round yesterday, under current constitution, France Hollande would have been sworn in by now. I have no doubt the Pf Governemnt has the courage and magnanimity to proceed with a 50%+1. The evidence is there over the Anti Corruption Act where they have re-instated the abuse of office clause, that clause targets those in positions of authority, especially Government officials and a Govenment that is malicious would find ways of delaying it, but they have gone forward,. So 50%+1 will come and before 2016 elections,let credible Bantustan Par
Nawakwi is just in the wrong camp altogether. You are a very credible person just like Magande. But your position not to shift positions even when you know your house is on quick sand is unfortunate. Judgement is key. Failure to judge at right times will leave you standing alone all along like Miyanda. Miyanda can contribute well to the nation but his fixated position is too inflexible that he has not yet trusted other politicians for a long time. We need flexibility in working for the development of Zambia. No one knows it all we all have significant or insignificant contributions we can make. Learn to work with others Zambians. Its about managing Zambia for better. You will never go outside Zambia to find people to trust for you to help Zambia develop. Work with fellow zambians
It should not end there, if none garners the 50% + 1, the leading party should negotiate and agree with any one of the lossing parties to form a coalition if combined votes make the threshold. It will be cheaper than going for a re-run (although am tempted to think money for things that do not bring development and are not budgeted is always available)
Coalition govts can be unstable. They are not the best. Look at Israel.
Don’t worry about Sata people. This is a man who will almost be in the 80s, that is if he will still be alive, when the next election comes. The PF is a one-man government that will die with its heavy smoker and alcoholic leader. This is a great opportunity for a younger, educated Zambian to rise and seize the moment. We need a leader that can find Zambia’s niche in today’s integrated world, someone who can pick up a phone and call any world leader and competently discuss business for the benefit of the country.
Don’t worry about Sata people. This is a man who will almost be in the 80s, that is if he will still be alive, when the next election comes. The PF is a one-man government that will die with its heavy smoker and alcoholic leader. This is a great opportunity for a younger, educated Zambian to rise and seize the moment. We need a leader that can find Zambia’s niche in today’s integrated world, someone who can pick up a phone and call any world leader and competently discuss business for the benefit of the country.
I see why fewer and fewer people are reading coming to your site. You censor the site. I guess it is not only Mmembe who received his windfall from Sata. Lusaka Times exemplifies what is wrong with this country. You want to gag people with reasonable ideas to share with others. Knuckleheads…
No.3 and No.2 Why should you start the argument here and start insulting the innocent parents who bore you. Stop the nonsense of involving your innocent parents, you intelligent fools.
Also remove the parental clause on presidency which was put there by Chiluba and Sata in 1996 to bar KK…
Good idea on paper. Remember, we always have about 10 party presidents standing, This makes it nearly impossible for one candidate to have the required 50%+1 vote in the first round, The second round will be a waste of money. We spend billions in every nationwide election, I know we can afford it at the expense of development, But is it good for the country?
#17, I think that is the kind of dialogue acceptable in this forum. When you write something sensible this trashy Lusaka Times will delete it. I think this is a showdown of knuckleheads (including Lusaka Times editors). No wonder stories are written in Zambianglish. Bye Lusaka Times. Looks like this is an exclusive territory for the likes of Mushota. No more…
#13 Sampa!!! A Bemba tribalist!! What has HH got to do with this article. I thick your Balls are swallen because of your hurtful for people who have done nothing wrong to you. Stupid tribalist!! Sata nyoko!!!!
Baaaaaaaaaa Fudidi epo mwaba! Watagwan?
At Sept 2011, PF may not have won re-run elections if 50+1 was in effect.
Also, re-runs are expensive and can be violent.
To win, parties may need to form a coalition govt, which can be unstable. Just look at Israel. Major in the coalistions can be hampered by threats of withdrawals by the minor.
With over 10 parties participation in zambia’s elctions, one would wonder the future picture. Will it be good enough to give start up parties nearly zero chance of getting to govt – like Chipimos? They may be forced to merge with other parties, there-by diluting their individual ideologies.
Just a thought, how would 50+1 have made things better at Sept 2011, seeing the main parties were MMD and PF? May be HH would be Vice President as we speak, for PF and UPND would have been forced to remain in PACT. Whether such a marriage would have been good or not for Zambia can only be speculated on at teh moment.
this has been long over due.
The 50+1 clause promotes coalition governments which in turn promotes unpopular parties been in government. Simple majority is the true reflection of majority rule no matter the number of parties in contention. Coalition sometimes equals collusion.
The only way to go. Its undebatable.
50 + 1 is not good for democracy. ZANU PF would have been burried had it not been for 50 + 1. PF would not have been in Power. Simple Majority is the best. 50 + 1 Encourages un holy aliances in terms of No. 3s Offering their support to No. 1s os No. 2s
@28 i disagree wit yo opinion, what happened to wade of senegal?
It is so weird that Zambians center the whole constitution on 50 + 1 clause. While 50 + 1 is necessary, it should be one of radical changes. The current Zambian constitution is out-dated and therefore not fit-for-purpose. We need for instance, sweeping and radical changes to the powers of the President. Let the constitiution repose and devolve power to the local people. Let the constitution empower people to make decisions about how to govern their own regions.
Right on #35 Blago. The biggest problem our constitution has is the ‘huge’ power in the office of the president. This makes the executive incurs on the other bodies of government.Â
@ 19 Deep throat assuming your evil wishful imaginations came to pass, the problem would be – who would vote for your preferred candidate, after all he has demonstrated to be, save for his tribe mates like you. Lubinda would even carry the day under PF. GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
Mwasosa bwino mayo; Mwakamba bwino a mai; Walanda icete mama; Mwayowoya makora ba mama; Mwa… kabotu ba kaintu; Bo ma …. hande; What about a private candidate for top office, does that sound practicable? Aaaghaa, no insults please, we are just brain storming!
I DO NOT Support the 50 + 1 vote. It Only serve to reward lazy Politicians. People must not get to corridor of POWER thru Backdoor. Each Political Party must work hard and win. nawakwi has been failing lamentably but want to se this to get into co-Govt., by backing in the second round the potential winner. awe this is insane. HH and Nawakwi must just work hard than to use this to get near Plot 1. WE as a COUNTRY should not reward failures.
While we are discussing the Constitution, I would like a RECALL provision so that politicians who lie to the electorate can be recalled if enough registered voters petition for a recall. Â This will cure the insidious and despicable standard that Sata has introduced in Zambian politics of lying just to get into power.
Can’t wait for next elections to see Edith again!
Why are peopled fixated on Sata and his 42%? He got more votes than Mwanawasa in 2001 and more votes than RB? So how would things have turned out had the 50%+1 been in force? Mwanawasa would never have been President and RB too. May be Sata too. But be fair on MCS at least he has the courage to have 50%+1 in the constitution. None of his predecesors had the courage to even think of putting it in constitutio! give credit where it is due!!!!! Viva MCS. Show them how it is done.
#23 “Also remove the parental clause on presidency which was put there by Chiluba and Sata in 1996 to bar KK…
” I FULLY SUPPORT YOU ON THAT. MOST ZAMBIANS ARE IN DIASPORA AND HAVE HAD CHILDREN WITH NATIONALS OTHER THAN ZAMBIANS. FOR ONE’S CHILDREN TO BE REGARDED AS SECOND CLASS IN ONE’S COUNTRY IS NOT ONLY SAD BUT INHUMAN. PLEASE, REMOVE THAT CLAUSE INTRODUCED BY A M.A.D MAN.