The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), has described the recent impeachment statements from opposition political parties as alarming and disturbing to the nation.
Centre Executive Director Neo Simutanyi has advised political leaders in the country to better means of solving their current political differences.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Dr. Simutanyi said there are better ways that the parties could use and ensure that the political field is made stable rather than making sentiments that are likely to create confusion.
Dr. Simutanyi explained that despite the country’s constitution providing for presidential impeachment, there must be convincing reasons why such an action should be applied and that it should also be supported by the majority Members of Parliament (MPs).
He noted that the current debates are having a negative impact on the socio-economic development of the country as they are likely to divert the attention of politicians from more crucial developmental issues.
Dr. Simutanyi said, during parliamentary debates Members of Parliament should concentrate on debating on how best Zambians should speed-up the development of their country.
Dr. Simutanyi however said the re-appointment of Dora Siliya as Education Minster and Michael Mabenga as Lands Deputy Minister are some of the decisions that President Rupiah Banda should have made with caution.
And the Committee of Citizens (CC) has condemned the move to impeach the President, saying it is disturbing and shows lack of seriousness on the part of politicians.
Committee Executive Director Gregory Chifire said there is need for politicians to put the national interest first than their personal agenda.
Mr. Chifire charged that it is a waste of time and money on the part of politicians to start debating the impeachment of the President who has not committed any constitutional breach.
He expressed sadness that the constitution in its current form does not have provisions that should punish MPs who are abusing their parliamentary privileges to bring about anarchy and unrest in the country.
He advised the Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) pact to concentrate on solving their intra-party squabbles and divisions than creating confusion in the country.
The opposition PF is reported to have been calling for the impeachment of President Banda adding that he is a danger to the nation if allowed to continue with his tenure of office the move which has been condemned by Civil Society Groups in the country.
And The Movement for Multi party Democracy (MMD) has distanced itself from media reports quoting Patriotic Front leader ,Michael Sata, as having said that some parliamentarians from the party intends to impeach President Rupiah Banda.
MMD Chairperson for Security, Ronnie Shikapwasha, says no single parliamentarians have been in talks with Mr. Sata with the intentions of moving a motion in parliament to impeach the President.[quote]
Lt Gen, Shikapwasha who is also chief government spokesperson, said this after touring Joy Fm radio, Times of Zambia and the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) premises today.
He described PF/UPND pact leaders as unpatriotic Zambians whose political manoeuvers are aimed at swaying some MMD parliamentarians into their scheme.
Lt Gen, Shikapwasha further said the motion is baseless and bound to fail as Zambians need credible leaders to take the country to greater economic heights.
He has reiterated that President Banda has led the country in an exemplary manner, despite the economic crisis brought about the global economic depression.
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He stressed that the opposition has no developmental agenda needed to stir the country out of the current problems hence hoping to gain political capital out of the ensued political instability.
Lt Gen, Shikapwasha observed that the opposition has no clear agenda and hope to the people on how they intend to govern the country.
ZANIS
there is no opposition worth talking about in zambia.infact there are only two tribal groupings masquerading as political parties.one is Ha-UPND for hichilema and tongas and secondly Ba-PF for bembas.that’s why they can’t think of something tangible to talk about because they all got no agenda.they need to be impeached
RB is wicked man. He appoints Shikapwasha the preacher man to be the spokesman-to tell his lies. I believe Shikapwasha goes home every day a sad man.
It seems to me like the only way Zambian politicians want to show the public that they are doing their job is by making statements through the press regardless of the content. I mean , It’s like they develop an orgasm each time they read their own statements in the press.
Everyone who wishes zambia well should open their mouths and condemn HH. he is the wicked one. Sata is not that desperate. HH wants power no matter who gets hurt in the process.
What makes news sales or you make a loss. There are many other issues to report about but politiking sales. Good Marketing …?
# 4 ninshi ubupuba leave HH alone he is just speaking on behalf of you mouth zipped zambian. ba RB chakuposafye!!!!!!!!
We have said it before and we are saying it again this so-called PACT is a league of Kawaya wayas without a backborne to move issues but irresponsible talk. It is a futureless marriage of convenience born out of self deficiency and unpatriotic greediness. It has no armor and idea of issues. We challenge them to move the motion now than yesterday.
Opposition is on point. They are not doing anything illegal, its within their rights and we can all see the disaster going on in zed. We have always been a nation that just sits and watches leaders mess us up and cry foul after it’s too late. There is need to change all that, if we zip up and fold our arms this time round we’ll be sorrier than ever
In contemporary politics, making too many empty pronouncements without armor and measurable result oriented action turnout to be serious impediment or clear and present liability to self.
It appears the opposition have run of ideas and cannot constructively engage MMD they have reached their dead end. We never stop campaigning. This drama started in 2001 and it is going on. When are these leaders going to deliver tot eh Zambian pipo. They are behaving like children at a compound school of the 1960s fighting over sweets. We are fed up. The impeachment being advocted by PF is good astrying to grohair on an egg. Let PF & UPND concetrate on consolidating their pact in readness for 2011 elections.
This government is a joke to say the least.
The president has no vision for the country.
He failed to run his companies so how do you expect him to run a country when he has no managerial skills.
Lets just wait for 2011 and vote in the next available as long as it is not an MMDn candidate.
Iwe Simutanyi dont you know that impeachment is part of our consititution? Just ask for work from RB insteady of alarming us
Actually Zambia has even delayed to effect the impeachment process because the opposition side is not united. Zambians are suffering because of the poor and weak opposition. RB knows this position and hence his long strides into corrupt and poor govervance. Zambians deserve better.
The arlaming Deja Vu is coming from the opposition they have not offered any challenge to the issues they say RB is wrong. ie the appointing of Dora and Mabenga there is a process to chllenge go to court let him break the law there then talk impeachment. But before taking any steps to address the issue you are only focused on going to state house
#13 UCHIPO. Are you in Zambia? Can any court here do anything against a sitting President? Just to refresh your memory. Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika & others took FTJ to court over his citizenship, that as a Congolese he was not legible to stand for Presidency. The CJ and his bench just came up some dubious explanations and FTJ continued to rule. There are many examples. Even parliament has a problem. When Nawakwi called for FTJs impeachement the speaker simply refused to conven parliament thus allowing FTJ to complete his term. On going to state house, that one I dont understand what you mean because even the MMD is fighting to keep state house.
This whole move is far-fetched and lacks credence.The opposition in Zed are failing citizens cos of their lack of seriousness to articulate issues and tell the masses exactly wht they will do once assuming office. Neo is right,instead of debating the ill-fated impeachment bid,they can direct their efforts to more pressing issues.
CPD, I have just seen belongs to Dr. Simutanyi. This man of late seems to be another mouth for the MMD. He speaks for them! At first I thought he had a good independent opinion when he wrote against the Sata on election day in 2006. But subsquently, he has shown a very weak heart for MMD, particularly after the fiasco with the POST. I no longer take him serious.
#11. I am not supporting RB but take note that running a company is different from running a country. There are many technocrats involved in the art of running public affairs. The problem of Zambia is not caused by politicians alone but the civil service which has a bad working culture. You have be inside GRZ circles and learn and know how the system runs. RB’s companies failed to run as a result of some crooked management team he had entrusted with running his entities. There are so many Zambians whose coys failed due to hostile political environment. Remember when MMD came into power in 1991 many coys owned by pereived UNIP supporters suffered loss of cpntracts etc. Let us concretrate on issues not personalities. Read Chiluba’s court testimony on Levy.
What’s wrong with Impeaching a non functioning president? Why are Zambians so docile?
LT waz happening. Bad pics.
There is certainly no need to debate the impeachment of President Banda because I believe he knows that he just has to go,so instead of him wasting our time he should just resign honourably. Take my advice Mr President if there is any trace of goodwill for the Zambian citizenry.