Forum For Leadership Search chairperson Edwin Lifwekelo says Parliamentarians who fail to deliver on their electoral promises should quit.
Mr Lifwekelo said in a statement obtained by ZANIS, today, that non performing Parliamentarians should step down rather than continue to masquerade as leaders .
He said it is silly for any MP to allege that the electorate are conniving with the MMD whenever they demand for responsibility and accountability from them.
” We shall not shy away from recognizing government responsibility to provide services for its citizens ,however, MPs as representatives of the people are the focal point persons for distribution of these services and it becomes silly for an MP to become defensive and fail to recognize,” he said in the statement.
He maintained that the electorate have constitutional and democratic right to task their representative if they do not deliver on their electoral promises.
Mr Lifwekelo states in the statement that while his organisation recognises the enormous responsibility that MPs have, basic community projects such as grading of the roads and providing good drainage could be under taken using Constituent Development Funds (CDF).
” As an NGO and an individual I have a responsibility to partner with the government of the day without misunderstood and that does not suggest any conspiracy to undermine any MP”.
He condemned the recent media briefing by Kabwata constituency MP Given Lubinda ‘s suggesting that representative of the people are useless and irrelevant to the economic dispensations.
He advised Mr Lubinda to rise above partisan politics at the expense of national development.
Mr Lubinda is reported in the media to have stated Parliamentarians are law makers not to source funds for development activities in constituencies they represent.
This was after concerns were raised by sections of the electorate in Kabwata Constituency Mr Lubinda represents.
ZANIS/IS/ENDS/MM
amen to that
Hopefully, this is not just the usual rhetoric. I have come to realise that almost every Zambian can speak with articulation, however, we are far from being doers.
I hope its not rhetoric too… But whose there to make sure parliamentarians are not sleeping on the wheel? Is it Lifwekelo? This is a high powered point if one took a look and objectively analyzed the status quo regarding how developmental funds mysteriously vanish or misapplied even given to contractors with no necessary deals to perform the job
So the point here is who should keep Parlias in check? The media amongst other avenues is the best to expose non performers but alas are being persecuted!
Mr Lifwekelo is back again.This man is camera-crazy.Ok, today he has a valid point.MPs have to be accountable to their constituents coz they are their masters.It happens everywhere,in the US,some Representatives(Republic/democrats) voted against the bailout coz their constituents said so and not their parties.That is true representation.So Given Lubinda has to be answerable to his constituents,its normal and afterall that what he chose.
I don`t buy stuff where people are paid to speak ,typical Zambian style of politics …
Spot on
So you mean its okay for MPS not be accountable to their constituents or those that dare are paid? if so how do you distinguish the genuine ones from those paid?
MPs aught to be accountable to their constituents , I totally agree. And if you remember citizens forum had drawn what they termed social contracts for presidential aspirants and MPs which would make them accountable .This some how lacked legal backing , however it could have been used as a monitoring tool .Did any of these stress looking chaps in the pics support the document none. How do they speak now, perhaps they have changed .I benefit of doubt may be
An MP should do what he has to do! Go to work and see to it that his constituency is not left out when the cake is served. If they can not live up to their promises then they are not fit for the office.
Mr Lifwekelo operates from Chicken Licken.
LOL right on point coz most tuma brief case NGOc chill pa Nandos too. Look at his comment ati “As an NGO and an individual I have…” it’s really a brief case NGO.
Mr Lifwekelo seems to be news maker if not noise make. He has something to say about almost everything
It is True
This Lifwekelo just talking nonsense.He is just talking against those who criticise the government.Some of these fake NGOs just chewing money for nothing leave Lubinda alone. And account for how funds are used in your NGO.
You’re right but can that happen in Zambia?
It appears that Mr Lifwekelo is speaking too much. On this one, I would like to defend PF Kabwata Constituency MP Mr G. Lubinda for saying “Mr Lubinda is reported in the media to have stated Parliamentarians are law makers not to source funds for development activities in constituencies they represent”.
This is a correct position of an MP. An MP speaks on behalf of his electorate in Parliament and is by no means a source of funds to be used for develpomental projects in his constituency.
So, let us learnt to use our mouths and brains properly before uttering nonsense in this day of information age.
walasa!
Mr Lifwekelo can be a big mouth, but on this one he has a point. An MP is a representative of the people in a constituence. As such he is a conduit for his constituent in parliament. One of his job is to source funds for projects the people he represents needs. Things like Road repairs, building of infrastracture i.e clinics, police posts ect… He knows what his constituent needs the most ,not the Govt.Thus he needs to push the govt for funding. In the USA is called PORK projects. Mr Lubinda should not only seat ,but help his constituent to aquire funds or else we will look for somebody else who will help, and not just seat and formulate toothless laws.
Every leader should be held accountable from President, MP to Cllr. These servants must do their best for us who put them in office. We dont expect to be promised fert. for K50pin during campaigns which after we vote is nowhere to be seen
?????
I think Zambians should be very careful with the directions we are heading to. You remember DCs introduced by chiluba who threatened everyone? Now its the youths. When I was growing up we used to call them mayusi (youths) or VG (vigilantes). They are back. What do you think Lubinda would do if there is no political will from central government to deliver. Do you know the cost of building a road? Its K1Billion per kilometer. Is Kabwata the only constituency that is under-developed? Or is because he is a witness in the Doro Siliya case? MPs campaign on the promises their party will deliver, not what they will do personally unless they are independents.
I see the government deliberately leaving out opposition areas so that the MPs are looked at as failures when it come to elections. Copperbelt has been an opposition strong hold and a bread winner for the nation. However, there are no roads there. Why Kabwata, Lubinda only and why now.
We are back in the stone age!
Even a non performing President should step down. My only worry is the cost of by-elections!
Its interesting how a non performing President is being left out. And moreover, do you expect a non performing parliamentary to resign on his own..in Zed? Never! Not on your life. When has it ever happened? People steal public funds, use juju to avoid being arrested and yet today, they are the same ones championing the fight against corruption! what a rotten society we live in. Impeachment is the answer!
maybe lifwekelo wants to stand in kabwata, Leave Lubinda alone,
The Zambian political scene is exhibiting itself as a circus run by children.
MP’s are lawmakers but can also source funds and Lubinda has not failed us on both. so Lifwekelo should just make noise on other things