PRESIDENT Banda says the failure by Parliament to pass the Constitutional Amendment Bill does not in any way suggest that Zambia is going through a constitutional crisis, which requires the immediate dissolution of Parliament.
This is contained in a statement issued in Lusaka on March 30 by special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere.
Mr Banda said the country will continue operating on the old constitution and Government organs will run normally.
“Zambia will hold presidential and parliamentary elections this year as per the current Constitution and I am committed to ensuring that the polls are held in a transparent and fair manner,” he said.
Mr Banda said the power to dissolve Parliament is vested in the President and he will exercise that power at an appropriate time, without undue influence from any political quarters or individuals wishing to create anarchy in the nation.
Mr Banda appealed for calm in the nation following the failure by Parliament to pass the Constitutional Amendment Bill ahead of this year’s general elections.
“I am appealing to ministers, deputy ministers, members of Parliament and MMD members not to apportion blame on anyone for the failure to pass the Constitutional Amendment Bill on Tuesday but look ahead as Government continues to score successes in various sectors,” he said.
President Banda said the failure will not affect the smooth-running of Government as portrayed by some political opportunists.
He said the MMD should not apportion blame on the United Party for National Development (UPND) for the failure to pass the bill. The UPND supported the constitution-making process at the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).
President Banda said it was the Patriotic Front (PF), which has always wanted to frustrate the constitution-making process by boycotting the NCC.
And from Livingstone, President Banda said the collapse of the Constitution of Zambia Bill is a temporary setback but it should not make Zambians lose hope of developing the country.
Mr Banda said this on March 30 shortly after opening the 7th ZIBAC conference at Zambezi Sun Hotel.
Mr Banda appealed for calm from all Zambians despite Parliament failing to pass the Constitution of Zambia Bill.
He said contrary to PF president Michael Sata’s insinuations that there is a constitutional crisis, Zambia has the 1996 constitution, which is still in force.
Mr Jere said the failure in Parliament cannot lead to the dissolution of Parliament and early elections as suggested by Mr Sata.
He said the loss on the Constitution is not a failure on the part of President Banda’s administration.
“The failure is on the part of Zambians, who have been let down by their representatives and the President has taken it as a challenge,” Mr Jere said.
Meanwhile, three Presidents arrived in Livingstone yesterday for today’s SADC Troika summit on the case of Zimbabwe.
South African President Jacob Zuma, Namibian President HifikepunyePohamba and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe landed at Livingstone International Airport.
The Mozambican President is expected to arrive on March 31.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
in my view this is a win win situation for the mmd….. and that is why rb seems unperturbed
The crisis Zambia is going through is RB himself. What has led to all this is the arrogance of RB and his government. They failed to listen to divergent views from the word go! The whole process was a sangwapo affair because even some of our respected legal minds in the NCC were busy parroting the MMD agenda of narrow mindedness on such an important national assignment. Well, the diey is cast; the 2011 General Elections will definately decide.The CHANGE WE DESIRE IS COMING-2011 VOTE PA BWATO. ITS PAYBACK TIME FOR MMD!
The good thing is that the nation has the 1996 constitution to fall on and the 2011 elections will be contacted on this. And the constitutional court will handle any electoral petitions from disputes on the 1996 untill MMD takes renewed mandate for another 5 years 2011-2016.
You can’t be a happy person if the highest organ in the land rejects to pass the bill on second stage and claim that you are not pertubed. This is a sign that something somewhere had gone bad at the preparatory stage of the whole process. This in itself is a clear understanding that there is a rot in the who ‘system’ which had been the calls all along.
George Kunda should be fired by RB for misleading the nation. George Should lose at the MMD convntion in April. fellowMMD members should teach him a lesson for having utumilomo twabufi.
By the way, do you know that RB will still be elligible to stand for elections in 2016? After winning this year’s elections, he will not have served two terms and thus will not be barred by the constitution tf he wished to contest in 2016. The period he has served is not a full term and is not his. What does the constitution and lawyers say on this one?
#6 PHIRI J- Your assumption is wrong. This guy did stand in an election so he he has served a term. He was not finishing LPMs tenure but his own. The only logical thing is to add the remaining years to what he has served. Any why cant he just announce the election day
That K80 billion could have been spent on some worthwhile projects, but as always RB things Zed is a rich country. G Kunda and RB must realise that the MMD has been tempering with the constitution for nearly 20years. Is that a good record? Atleast UNIP let the frog stand against KK for many years. Amusing stuff !!
RB do not blame anyone but yourself. PF have nothing to do with it because mmd was changing things to suit them and not the ordinary zambian. Parliament should be dissolved as the mmd is using government resources to camphaign. We need change of government, enough is enough mmd.
RB WILL STILL WIN THIS YEARS ELECTION
We want changa! We want change! We want change! We want change! We want change!!!!!!!!
@3 Patriot says.. “And the constitutional court will handle any electoral petitions from disputes on the 1996 untill MMD takes renewed mandate for another 5 years 2011-2016.”
Are you anticipating petitions because of something you know? Enjoy your freedom Patriot/SC, but enjoy it responsibly.
THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IF YOU VOTE FO PF IT IS JUST THE SOME AS MMD, NO DIFFERENCE I SEE. VOTE FO A REALL CHANGE NOT A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN IN MMD BEFORE THAT IS NOT CHANGING.THE REALL CHANGE I SEE IS IN UPND AND HH.
MMD 1 OPPOSITION 0. Pipo in zambia dont seem to learn