Friday, March 29, 2024

Should Zambia have a Veep as Presidential running mate?

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runningmatesAs the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) continues its sittings in Lusaka, one area that may be worth exploring is the enactment of a law that will make a Vice president be elected into office as a running mate to the Presidential candidate.

Article 144 (2) of the draft constitution states that “The Vice-President shall be elected as a running mate to a Presidential candidate,” subsection (4) further states that “An election to the office of Vice President shall be conducted at the same time as that of an election to the office of President so that a vote cast for a presidential candidate is a vote cast for the vice-presidential candidate and if the presidential candidate is elected the vice-presidential candidate is also elected.”

Zambia can be thought to be an icon of democracy in the region but the issue of enacting a law that would make a VP be elected as a running mate to a presidential candidate needs to be addressed objectively and given a deserved critique.

The prevailing situation is that the President-Elect keeps everyone guessing as to whom he would appoint as the number two man in the country.

Due to this speculation our men and women in the corridors of power end up struggling with each other in making the most noise during campaigns, others abandon their religious faith all in the name of wanting to be spotted by the President-elect so that they too could be considered for the vacant position of Vice President.

Nawa Mabunga of Ndola agrees that enacting such a law would be very beneficial to the country and to democracy as a practice. He explains that such a law would make the office of the Vice President to carry out its functions without fear.

Mr Mabunga observes that the current environment is not conducive for the office of the Vice President to be objective as any person occupying that office is just there to please his appointing authority and can never allow himself to differ in opinion with the President as he can be fired any time and as to when the President pleases.

He goes on to explain that having an elected for Vice President would help the country to save its merger resources incase of eventualities such as the state funeral that the country experienced last year.

He said if the country at the time had an elected into office vice president he would have simply assumed office and all the money that was spent on the elections and campaigns would have been channeled to national development.

However, Mabunga advises that there is need for the two to strictly work within the stipulations of their roles. He notes that it would not look very well if the vice president tried to outshine the President and that the only way to avoid such a thing would be to stick to out job description, and not to make governance difficult for the other just because he does not have the power to dismiss.

Patricia Mwansa observes that having the Vice President as a running mate to a Presidential Candidate would enable the people of Zambia to vote for a Vice President of their choice as opposed to the current situation where the second most important man in the nation is imposed on them.

She articulates that people would be extremely cautious when voting for the presidential candidate and that some presidential hopefuls would lose elections on the choice of their Vice President running mates.

“Enacting such a law would be very beneficial to us as Zambians because for the first time in our history we as people would have a say in choosing the vice president, if you feel a certain vice presidential candidate can not deliver you simply do not vote for the Presidential candidate whom he is running mate to, you go for other choices,” she notes.

Ms Mwansa further observes that such a practice would be very beneficial even to the political parties concerned as it would kill in-house fighting amongst members which she said is usually perpetuated by individual speculation s that may be one may be appointed by the president as Vice President.

She further stresses that it would also be important to stipulate that once someone has served as Vice President for two terms, they therefore will not be eligible to stand for the same office again, because the people would have had already given them a chance to implement those ideas as Vice President.

Nancy Chewe adds that having a Vice President who ascends to office as a running mate of a Presidential Candidate will also entrust the Vice President with confidence because he would feel that the people chose him as well and not the prevailing situation.

Chewe points out that Africa and Zambia in particular is very mature in politics and that it is capable of practicing what is being practiced in bigger democracies elsewhere.

She says if enacted the law would even deter certain leaders that cheat their colleagues during campaigns that they would make them ice president if they go through and yet they have other leaders in their minds to appoint VP, she added that the article would encourage honesty and transparency among the political players.

Ends/pc/zanis/ndola

77 COMMENTS

  1. I was about to post a sophisticated and philosophic comment on this topic, but I decided it would be a little too early so let me wait for others to comment first.

    • It is a very long essay and I’m just trying to summarise it into a short , easily readable analogy. Be patient.

    • A TOTAL HORRENDUS IDEA.ELECTED VEEP NOT AT THIS TIME IN ZAMBIA.VEEP WILL SIMPLY ANNIHILATE THE PRESIDENT AND HE BE PRESIDENT AUTOMATICALLY.FOR NOW SHALL ABSOLUTE POWER BE IN ONE MAN FOR OUR COUNTRYS SAKE.

  2. Having a running mate will reduce on the bootlicking that we have seen in the past and also avoid costly by-elections like the one we experienced when the LPM (MHSRIP) left us.

    • This is where the problem lies. Both parties (those in support and those against having a veep as a running mate) have misunderstood the role of veep in such a scenario. The veep in such a case is a mere figurehead. He is just there to ensure that in the case of the president being incapacitated, there would be no vacancy as the veep is already elected by the peopleand accepted by them. There would be nothing to reduce bootlicking as the veep would be nowhere close to the president interms of power

    • You are right! bootlicking should come to an end! Some characters behave as if they a masters in the same field! No wonder some leaders rule with an iron,because every rubbish they say is supported in unison by everyone including the Veep!!!

  3. I haven’t read this item fully cos Im going out. But tentatively I think its better to create the post of prime minister (a powerfully prime minister elected by parliament from within parliament). So that he is less prone to manipulations.

  4. I agree with this in general terms. But what would happen if say the vice presidential candidate is rejected by the electorate at the polls and the presidential candidate is accepted?

  5. sounds like a good idea. I ddont know if i got it right “running mates” does this means that the president would be from party A and Veep from party B? if so there should be serious smoothening after elections.

  6. Well seems interesting. How will it be if say the Veep himself was to die, how do you replace him? hold a by election? On the brighter side, it will cut down on bootlicking.

    • The Vice President is the first person in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death, resignation, or removal of the president.
      He or she also serves as the President of the Senate, but can only cast a vote in the event of a tie. United States Vice Presidents’ tie-breaking votes happen very rarely.
      In recent times, the President has assigned the Vice President additional duties that fall outside the Vice President’s constitutional duties. The Vice President, however, only performs such duties as an agent of and at the discretion of the president (This is the US constitution)

  7. U mean running mate been selected on the same day as the Presido? So kuti yaba shani ati RB president and Vice Guy Scott

    • Its not like that. It means if RB had a running mate any vote for RB goes to his Vice. Equally the opposition also should have their mates. so in this case RB running mate would have been the vice president.

  8. Not very bad idea if only both will subjected to serious Medical check-ups before elections and just after by independent medical boards. Mind you most of this politicians are highly infected with the uncureables.

  9. My i be educated as what is the meaning of this clause”The vice president shall be elected as running mate to the presidential candidate”? At what point in the process of election is the vice president to be elected as a running mate and by who? Is it the political party that has put forward a presidential candidate that should propose a vice- or is it the presidential candidate him/her self who should appoint a running mate or is it a free for all situation where everyone wishing to contest the vice president post can stand . The clause is not clear of its content

  10. I think veeps work under fear and are dead scared to question the apponting authority on matters concerning national interest for fear of being fired! I think it will be best to have a running mate , who will be independent and will be able to execute his duties without fear.

    • Hey gal, I just got tired of Lt. Sky blogs and Twitter are my favorite pass time for now. I have noticed that bloggers have been giving you a hard time. Just keep on what you do best and they will realise that you are indeed an angel.

  11. We are already facing a tsunami in the government, and surely do not know why this should be on the top of the agenda!!

    I believe there is a lot this government can do in terms of policy making that can benefit the people more than this election matter.

    Even if we did have a Veep as a Presidential running mate , I really do not know how that will feed the people or solve the currency problem. I fail to understand. Its just power that is sweet and only profits those in top seats. It surely does not solve the economic issues we are facing at present. Concentrate more on making proper policies that making elections the main center of attraction!!

  12. In the event that NS dies while in office, Kunda takes over the remainder of the term without going through and election like was the case when LPM died. The unpopular thing about it in Africa is that if the two disagree, NS can not fire Kunda. This set up caused a lot of drama in Nigeria when Olusegon wanted to sort out Atiku. The same was the case in Malawi

  13. This is good to avoid bootlicking. Has any of you guys seen how George Kunda walks when he is receiving RB at the airport, He looks at RB’s shoes so as to keep up the step, so embarrassing (sp)

  14. Things must not be done here just because they are done in the US. we dont need a running mate. Thats all

  15. That will be good! with the poor healths of most of our politicians, when the prez kicks a bucket, the no#2 takes over without having to spend millions for a bye elections!

  16. In every respect this a very progressive step. Currently a VP is mere Chola Boy. No matter how educated he is he will not excercise his brains for fear of being fired by the appoing man-sometimes even in public

  17. “The prevailing situation is that the President-Elect keeps everyone guessing as to whom he would appoint as the number two man in the country.”
    True indeed. The enactment MUST go ahead for we do not need bootlickers in this 21st Century.
    This is a time to show the whole world that we can trust each other in conducting our politics and so PLEASE NCC make sure you include this clause in your draft Constitution.
    Zambians and Zambia NEEDS a working a practical Constitution by the 2011 elections so that we can have free and fair tripartite elections that will see us to start focussing our attention on National economic development instead of doing politics of appeasement and hunger.

  18. The most distressing thing about this blog is the level of ignorance displayed by contributors who are supposed to know. The secong thing is the simplistic quality of the lead article intended to provoke debate. As all bloggers must have seen all the comments in the lead article are in support of having a Vice-President as a running mate. Does it not beg the question why all countries have not adopted this approach in their constitutions, It is important that sites like this one employ writers of some depth in oreder to mitigate the general shallowness you encounter in Zambia.

  19. The main factor in support of a Vice-President as a running mate is the ready availability of a succesor in case the President dies or has to vacate his office for some reason such as sickness or is impeached. The other main reason is for purposes of balancing the nation during the election. For example, if a Presidential candidate was from Southern Province, the Vice-President running mate could not be from the same Province.
    The biggest problem is paralysis. If the in the cause of time the President and his Vice were to be at loggerheads, the President can not remove the Vice and the nation is dragged into an endless quarrel and paralysis. This happened in Malawi where Bingu wanted to

  20. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ah aha ha…………AAAAAAAhhha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.Guys Iam not mad as you may think.Iam just happy with this headline.Where will the money come from for printing ballot papers.Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

  21. remove his Vice -President and the courts ruled otherwise. This is a very real possibility. Henry Kissinger in describing the relationship between the US President and Vice-President said that it was always a cold relationship because the President knows that the only person to benefit from his death or downfall is the Vice_President. As to the shallow issue of bootlicking. The Vice-President is always in a trap any way. In cabinet he can choose to be difficult in which case the Ministers will hate him. Or he cah choose to be a Yes man and the Ministers will disregard him. The choice between having the Vice as running mate or maintaining our current system is not an easy one.

  22. This is especially so when you consider that in the main the big tribes will be the main beneficiaries since a Presidential candidate would be ill advised to pick a running mate from a small tribe. It is difficult to evaluate whether this would be a good thing or not. Bloggers you may wish to consider and comment on the above issues.

    • Please, stop this TRIBE thing once and for all. My NRC and Passport do not indicate that I am a Tonga Person and so this issue is irrelevant. All you need to know is that, all Zambians whether from one tribe or not are Zambians are their role is to develop the whole Nation. If they fail, such a failure will have nothing to do with the TRIBE(S) they come from, but their individual input as failed politicians.

      There is no need to carry on talking and writing about tribe for what affects Lozi Zambians also affects the Kaondes or any other Zambian tribes apart from these two.

      I hope the 2011 tripartite elections campaigns will have nothing to do with mentioning of tribes by those vying…

    • I am 100% on your side Bro. The tribal issue is very much irrelevant and is only pulling us down.
      Development of a Nation is truly based on the Wisdom of those in charge and also on those being governed.

    • Maestrol… this is good to hear it from you. this is what we need in Zambia. We are all Zambians . Continue with the same spirit man.

    • Cool and keep well you all. Please, make sure you stop anyone trying to bring tribal issues at all costs. I have a friend from Rwanda who refuses to tell anyone whether he is hutu or tutsi whatever the spelling is. All he says is that he is rwandan and this is the attitude that Zambians need to take now. We are tired of seeing our country being derailed from developing due to people who are behaving like like they are in the 18th Century when we had separate Bantu-speaking people migrations.
      Please, we all 71 Zambian tribes fought for independence together and lets keep the “One Zambia, One Nation” spirit alive and high.

  23. In addition to Presidential ruuning mate, I suggest regions/provinces elect Governors/Mayors/ Provincial Minister (whatever we choose to call them) during the same general elections. This would help those regions come up with innovative ideas for development instead of looking up to Lusaka all the time. We need the Provincial governments to start functioning as Lusaka has failed the rural areas.

    • Good idea, certain areas have suffered bcoz of the centralised system. This means Zed will be a federal state, dont know if those who want to have power around them will be willing to devolve it the the Prov. and District. Remember Decentralisation (Devolution) has dragged for years bcoz of selfishness

    • Impressive. This has potential to solve the problems like President RB Banda appointed Southern Province Minister Mr Daniel Munkombwe chasing away a UPND elected Councillor from a meeting of stakeholders to resolve the health problems of Livingstone residents. Lets us truely improve our democracy so that people begin to respect each other for the benefit of all Zambians.

  24. Yaba …that cant happen in Zambia coz even the pipo on the NCC are bootlickers waiing to be appointed as vice fimo fimo. They are just passing time but deep down their hearts all will vote no. Sad indeed.

    • LT whats wrong with my comments and whats the meaning of moderation? Is it oz I have bootlickers??????

  25. Not only does this give us an opportunity to vote for a VP who is a running mate to the P. This gives an opportunity to the elected VP to understudy the P. We need Presidents with some experience. Going through campaigns and ruling as a VP without fear of being dropped at the whim of the P will also create confidence in the VP. This way once the term of the P ends and the VP wants to continue there is also the advantage of continuity.The inclusion of this clause to me is a must.

    • Also, we will avoid situations where a person who never had a plan to be our Zambian President suddenly finds him-/her-self in a position to lead us and eventually taking all the positives that others prior to him/her made backwards. Examples of this are the KWACHA which is losing value at a very rapid rate due to lack of confidence on our new leadership and splitting of the MMD into small factions that have potential to let it fail to form GRZ in 2011.

  26. Sarah Jones,it feels great to have you back.I was on the journey looking for you.This makes me feel good

    • Thanks. Its nice to know that you are still cheerful. Come 2011 and PF will be in power, Am just counting the days. I can’t stand MMD at the moment, it just makes me sick all the time.

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