The Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) has advised members of the public not to force President Rupiah Banda to announce the date of elections outside the provisions of the constitution.
PAZA vice president Amos Chanda said President Banda cannot be forced to announce the election date because he knows that he was working within the provisions of the constitution.
Speaking last night on a Muvi television programme dubbed “The Assignment” and monitored by ZANIS in Lusaka, Mr. Chanda stated categorically that President Banda is operating according to the provisions of the Zambian constitution.
He implored those calling on the Head of State to announce the date of elections to hold their fire as it was within his powers to do so.
He added that trying to force the Head of State to announce the date would not be backed by any legal framework.
There are growing calls by different stakeholders for president Rupiah Banda to announce the dissolution of parliament, and subsequently announce the date of elections.
Recently, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema called on president Banda to immediately dissolve parliament and announce the date for elections in order to create a level playing field for campaigns.
Mr Hichilema pointed to the fact some government ministers who are members of parliament are still using government resources to campaign because parliament has not yet been dissolved.
And Mr. Chanda called on both private and public media organisations to be impartial when reporting on issues concerning this year’s elections to avoid misleading the public.
Mr. Chanda also noted that the media in the country had a sole obligation of informing, educating and entertaining the public in a fair and truthful manner to enable them make informed decisions.
He further cautioned media houses taking sides with certain political parties to desist from doing so if democracy was to flourish in the country.
He said journalists across the country should strictly observe media ethics to benefit all the citizens in Zambia.
‘We know that some media bodies have a tendency of taking sides with some political parties during elections. This is unethical and all those media houses that are in this habit should stop with immediate
effect,” he warned.
He said Zambians have been living in peace for a long time now hence the media should not be seen to perpetuate violence in the country.
Mr. Chanda also appealed to all political parties participating in this year’s elections to have confidence in the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) as it was the only body mandated to conduct and monitor elections in the country.
He wondered why some political parties have a tendency of criticising the Commission whenever the country held elections.
He said the ECZ was working hard to administer elections in the country hence it needed the support of all stakeholders.
ZANIS
Ba Chanda careful pipo might think you have been bought you have known to be a principled guy anyway
these people who back what their conscience tell them different thing sometime i wondere if live in zambia we are looking head to coming of rains and to be fair to competiting partners to have time also to campaign enough that is what we call democracy. RB should folllow the constitition with love of the country not based on selfish motives and some one is even supporting money make some people idoits
PAZA – People Against Zambia’s Ascension
I WONDER WHY PEOPLE BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY BEFORE AND AFTER MEALS. BA PILITICIAN PA BLOG TELL ME WHAT CHANGES IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEFECTING FROM ONE PARTY TO THE OTHER. GOD DEAL WITH OUR POLITICIANS SO THAT THEY START BEHAVING LIKE HUMAN BEINGS AND NOT ANIMALS WITHOUT CONSCIENCE.
Amos honestly,we cant have these ministers campaigning using taxpayer’s money.
ANOTHER MMD VUVUZELA…. MR CHANDA DNT U KNW THT ITS ABT TIME WE HAD SUCH MATTER INCLUDED IN OUR BUKS?
Amos you should be very careful it’s the people who have the power and not RB. He’s were he is coz of the Zambians who have the right to demand to know when they’ll excersise the right to vote.If you’re lookin for a job in the MMD corrupt Govt forget…You’re just showing you foolishness and political myopia and political poverty.GO TO HELL!!!!
Iz there anybody forcing RB to announce the electionz date?
Constitution my arse
iwe chanda dnt b foolish pipo hav the rite 2 force RB 2 set a date 4 elections since his accountable 2 the pipo.
Who is this one to “warn” us? atase
RB will announce the election date at an “appropriate” time i.e. when he is outside the country ( as he did in South Africa that elections will be held by September ) or when we have a state visit ( as he did when Mrs Clinton was here that elections will be held in the next few months ). Lets not forget that RB is a great diplomat !
The announcement of the date for general elections is a public issues and every citizen has the right to be concerned if the President is adamant over the matter. That’s the problem of having a flawed constitution like ours. An individual is capable of holding the entire nation at ransom and keep you insulting each other as is the case now. Our collegues in advanced democracies such as the USA or even in Tanzania knows the dates of their election well in advance because it is enshrined in their constitution. Zambians, we are still living in the ancient days. Shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We all know that the last session of parliament will never reconvene to conduct normal business unless there is an emergency. So why delay the dissolution of the house if not for selfish motives.
One of the reasons is that ministers will no longer be able to dip their dirty fingers into national resources because they will cease to be ministers once parliament is dissolved. This will badly affect MMD campaign machine.
Currently ministers are out in various parts of the country in ministerial vehicles, drawing govt allowances, govt fuel etc but performing MMD party campaigns. What a shame!!
These abuses have to come to an end with the new constitution by enshrining an election date therein
the new trend of presenting the budget in October will it stand? just asking because by this time a new govt will have been ushered into office. maybe mcs was right when he said elections will be held in august it really makes sense now!
Forcing the Head of State it may not be a right thing BUT encouraging him to announce an election date is not bad. The election date is not about who continues or replaces who in State House but its for the electorate as well. It helps them to plan around the date so that they participate as well.
Especially satana and his cabal of homos/afgani drug barons/kaponyaz etc.
i watched the programme ,what you have written is just an inch of what he said,he first condemed the constitution,bcoz the constitution is porous,the president can behave the way he is behaving.So when Sata becomes President this year,we shall tackle the issue of Constitution in 90days
Chanda stated categorically that President Banda is operating according to the provisions of the Zambian constitution.
it is a fake constitution. that is why we want the general elections’ date to be enshrined in the constitution. Chanda Amos you must know that we need to plan. If you don’t plan that is you are backward. Think like someone who has gone to school. your Rupia may announce date for election in which i am already engaged with other important things for my survival, do you think i am going to let go my meanings of survival to go and vote when i have little if not nothing benefit from those i vote in power.
I think all those making noise now about Election date should just shut their trap or mouth up. For example under five Hichilema knows that the election date, with many other good clauses, were in the draft constitution. If his MPs had voted with us, the election date would have been provided for in the constitution. He mobilised his MPs to stab us in the back over trivial and now today he wants to bicker about election date. How under five can you get really?
But who is forcing the presido to anounce the date and why? oppositions in zed ni poja chabe
”It is within his power to announce the date of elections”, power, power power, absolute power corrupts and corrupts absolutely!
Why should an election date be kept as a secret? Check in other countries! This date should be enshrined in our constitution. Whatever the motive it is not well meaning to all Zambians
Draft Constitution. “Secton 83. (1) Subject to clause (2) and the other provisions of this Constitution, a general election shall be held every five years
on the last Wednesday of September after the last general election.” And this was thrown out, because the Bill was thrown out. More like throwing the baby with the bath water. E.g., forty per cent of the total number of constituency-based seats was supposed to be on the basis of the proportional representation!
Amos is stating the truth. In case you didn’t know Amos is a PF sympathiser.
#16 VJ Rigger. I have just listned to un interfered speech by Amos Chanda, and what I have heard has shocked me. Amos has not supported RB for hiding the election but has blamed the Zambians for accepting a rotten constitution and even went further as to condemn ZNBC for airing the unethical Chanda Chimba III nonsense. Zanis have only picked the pro a III nonsense. Zanis have only picked the pro
PAZA vice president Amos Chanda and No. 20 MMD Chief Bootlicker, it’s a good thing, PF is going to resolve this matter for us all in the next elections, this matter shall be left to the famous (or infamous) Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)!
The president must do what zambians want he is the peoples servant therefore he should do what his masters want not what he wants that is the right thing
Meaning, there is no need for one man (no woman has been President yet) to announce this simple date, which in other countries, has been enshrined in the constitution: In USA elections 1st week of November every 4 years on the 4th day!. Inauguration follows on the 20th day of the following January. CRISP, SHARP AND TO THE POINT!
Boot licker=only Pro mmd segments were picked by mmd controlled zanis from Amos Chandas speech so what makes them better than the Post ?
In the KK days, this date was held close to the chest to catch the opposition by surprise! That is short campaign period! Exactly what UNIP2 is doing right now! Sending Ministers on the campaign trail- all over the country! Dora opening ifyumbusu ku Chitwe, Defence Minister resolving MMD issues in Barotseland! Finance Minister meeting former deputy Finance Minister in Chienge!
change the constitution, the election date should be consistent and not some wizardry influenced date from chipata.
No 13 John*** Good point
This is a scandal, and that Man Amos is just positioning himself for a probable post, after the elections
I hate to call someone Ugly, bad that man eptimises that, I am embarrased that he is Bemba like me.
I feel as Bembas we need to talk sense and show the country that we are the cream of the country, that we are the prime and the envy of all the second tier tribes, this Man is an outcast as far as I am concerned.
My fiance and I just laughed uncontrollably.
Reneging on a tribe’s beliefs like that man hypnotises what we have learned to believe from our caucaasian masters! Thanks
This evening, I obtained a DVD of what I said on Muvi Tv Assignment to ensure I have ready answers for those that have in the last 48 hrs poured torrents of threats because I was “unfair to the government and CC III.” I am shocked at what I have read here (not just the cooked ZANIS story) but also the terribly intellectually bankrupt postings from some insulting and tribal bloggers. U see when you have nothing to hide you actually hide nothing including the e-mail. Those wishing to hear the recording can write to me on [email protected]
@2 actually that is what these bastards want=disadvantage others. They banned radio stations from running campaign programs for the opposition meanwhile Lucifer Banda is all over all air waves. This desparation just shows this gang has something to hide
who cares! this time mmd will come number 3
RBISH knows in his heart that he has lost! Procrastinating announcing the date will only make matters worse for SHREK.
It’s unnecessary for under 5 to force RB because soon we’ll run out of days and the President will have no option but to announce the date. So Chintombwa must just concentrate on his shallow campaigns and meet the big boys when the time comes. This boy is starting to irritate me.
When is Fat Albert announcing the election date? The vice is tightening around MMD slowly but surely.
I listened to the interview and Amos exhibited maturity in the manner he was articulating issues. He was objective unlike bootlickers and don’t not think he is lobbying for a post. ‘ Other journalist should emulate the likes of Amos. Amos is just a principled scribe jealous down.
msana wanzili #37. what is so irritating about saking for an election date to be announced? You just hate the young man period.
PF cadres, it doesn’t matter what anyone says about the election date, it has always been and shall remain the President’s discretion. As for the Ministers going around the country inspecting development projects or campaigning using government resources as PF would want us to believe, until parliament is dissolved there is nothing illegal about it. Both the President’s discretion on the election date and the ministerial tours of the country are perfectly within the constitution, so don’t waste your time.
The President and the Ministers are servants of the Zambian people.We should not allow a stuation where by Ministers uses TAX payers money to campain for MMD,never.God is raising another leader to arrest corruption in the land.
# imbwa iwe…..
#26 Deja vu, you are known on LT as someone who doesn’t understand English. So if you watched Amos Chanda on Muvi TV, it is not likely that you understood what Amos Chanda was saying if he spoke in English.
@38 Please dont compare RB to Fat Albert. Fat Albert was a descent cartoon character. He was full of wisdom whereas RB is full of fart!
What is happening now is what George Kunda meant when he said MPs and Ministers must remain functional even when parliament finishes its business, and now RB is doing according to George Kunda’s directive, by delaying dissolving parliament.
This is irresponsibilty of the highest order by RB, and tantamount to abuse of office, corruption and lack of respect for Zambians. And we are sleeping while they plunder our resources in broad daylight….
PF cadres, you are well advised to just concentrate on coaching your president to say and do the right things befitting an aspiring presidential candidate. So far he has only succeeded in decampaigning himself, and by election day he will have destroyed himself. And the Post are not helping him either with their failure to explain whether he has changed from the man whose behaviour and conduct they condemned for years, the man they taught us all that he was not presidential material, that he was corruption itself. I wonder what the Post is up to?
We need accountability not stealing and wasting public funds.Sata is the right man for the Job.
iwe chikala cobe chanda waba maso cakwa noko bwingi
I am surprised that both ZANIS and PAZA are dangerously ignorant about the Zambia constitution. There is no Article or Clause in the Republican constitution which gives the President the power to announce the date for the general elections.
Another good reason we must have the Constitution amended. Abash with such archaic provisions that makes the President act like a semi-god or king!!!
No need for elections Rb bapondo,he is just doing fine tuka votako mu 2110 nga anaka umwine.
#33 Mushota thought you were married nomba mwachinja ati ba fiance. Fyalipwa? Elyo nausosa, Zambia needs serious people. Insala can convert a person. These guys should be neutral as they are public informers. Election date is not for RB and MMD. The government is the people of Zambia. We need transparency on certain issues that concerns citizen. There are some of us who went home and registered so we need to plan well with time here so that we can participate in voting.
Yep, election date MUST be a part of the constitution.
MMD is not popular no wonder their members insult Michael Sata time and again painting evil pictures ..
Zambians need jobs,more money in their pockets.Please Mr President dissolve parliament .Those Ministers who are using TAX payers money this time around will be made to account one day.
Chanda, teka amatako panshi! Uli mwaiche sana! This is an election campaign, one has to be tactical, NO ONE HAS CLAIMED RBish has VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION on this one (except he still has to answer about Nationality & as such whether he qualifies to stand as presido), NO ONE IS FORCING HIM TO ANNOUNCE the date (i.e if you understand the word “FORCE!”). IT’S ALL ABOUT whether the guy has the “balls” about him to show he is man enough or simply cowering behind the the weaknesses of he constitution. SOON ENOUGH, IT WILL COME TO SHOW HOW MUCH OF A COWARD HE IS TO FACE UP TO THE OPPOSITION & THE PEOPLE that he is seeking a mandate from!! Kanitundila, you can’t bury your head in the sand forever – Call the “ERECTION” (easy I guess, a bit of Viagara!) NO, it’s he ELECTION we ask 4!!
One can clearly see Bwezani’s sinister motives behind keeping a parliament that has adjourned sine die not dissolved, to allow ministers to plunder public resources. If PAZA cannot see this, then they are s.t.upid in the extreme. No one is trying to force him to announce the date of elections outside the provisions of the constitution, it is just logical that once parliament adjourns sine die, it must be dissolved forthright to stop the abuse of public resources by the ruling party. This is one of the items many Zambians wanted included in their constitution, that the end of a legislative session should be followed immediately by the dissolution of parliament. Now you have cabinet ministers all over the place campaigning by promising this and that project. The silliness stinks!
Kanjoko is right, when parliament adjorns sine die, and not dissolved it means the life of parliament is still on, yet not much work is being done for the Zambian people. Let the President announce the election date and put the matter to rest. Such talk only heigtens temperatures of what would have been a smooth sailing election period. Save Africa this crazy stories of stolen elections.
Brother Chanda, I think defending a constitution that is fake makes you fake. I wish you can shut up if you have nothing to talk about. That constitution you are talking about, and Mr Banda you are talking about will go to hell together. We need a new constitution and new leaders.Mr. HH WAS RIGHT WHEN HE POINTED OUT THAT MR. BANDA SHOULD ANNOUNCE THE ELECTION DAY SO THAT THOSE THIEVES SHOULD STOP USING GOVERNMENT PROPERTY FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
@16. sheesh!!! You can’t even spell your own name! Boring article. Boring country.
Jury=You are a cunt. You are watching an edited version that is if you in Zambia. Iam listening on radio icengelo. In any case what is so special about english. No wonder you always dribbled by cheap politicians in english
Amos you have just become another Lifwekelo, Chifire, Mumbi and that Reverend!!!! Asking rupia to announce the date is not forcing him. Don’t lecture us on election issues but lecture chanda chimba on media ethics and abuse of public media.
#24, bo Mufalo Mbinji, spot on fellow intellectual! why throw out such a clause just because the party in power says so? And Kunda is happy that what he presented as an NCC document is rich in content yet they threw out basics and fundamental clauses that are urgently needed to make the play ground level.
We are watching
It makes sad reading to note that the opposition are now crying about the election date. How can they forget so easily that the Draft Constitution they threw out of parliament had a provision for the election date? These are double standards. The same people who refused to adopt the new constitution are now crying about the election date. The current constitution empowers the Head of State to determine the election date. The delay by the president is constitutional bgecause the constitution empowers him to announce at his own time. We all agreed to operate under a flawed constitution. Why are we crying now? Next time remember to be rational. A lot of MPs thought they were fixing the MMD by voting against the draft constitution. Now it is clear that they fixed themselves. Shame!
Another MMD vuvuzela in Amos from PAZA. THE KITWE MAYOR HAD HIS OFFICIAL CAR WITHDRAWN FOR USING IT ON pf PARTY ACTIVITES AND THIS IS CALLED ABUSE OF OFFICE BY MMD. However there is no abuse of office when Dora and Daka use GRZ vehicles and fuels to ferry cadres and hold rallies in the same towns of Copperbelt. PAZA sees nothing wron in that and they are even encouging RB to continue keeping the date of elections to himself. If MMD is given another 5 years Zambia will be bankrupty. Already RB is concessioning our own Lusaka intrnational Airport. Most Ministers and P.S and Directors in Gvt Ministries are contractors and consultants for these cometic deals and projects. Zambians must be warned no wonder MMD depend on rural votes because they can easily manipulate them.
Another Bemba F00l at it again this chi chanda is a patriotic fuu (PF). it’s not nice to make rules that only suite you when you are in power because they will haunty you when you are out.do you know that if Sata and ka Chiluba didn’t change the 50+1% clause sata would have been president by the cause for almost 15yrs MMD has been winning just by 29% meaning 70% of the population don’t like them no wonder even RB did want the elections to be held on the new constitution he feared that and wise UPND mps short at him and kinda by not supporting that rabish trash. Please let’s us ignore fools like chanda they are enemies of zambia
SO SCARED TO REMAIN SKELETONE HENCE FAULURE TO DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT. WE SHALL DEMAND A REFURND AND LOCK UP THE FOOLISH……AFTER ALL THIS MAN IS DAILY COMMITING SERIOUS OFFENCES.
what Amos is saying is correct, according to the current constitution. The draft constitition had solved this problem, and who blocked it?
Surely a whole press association you have thrown objectivity off the window. You should be asking your president to make known the election date so that your people, the voters and politicians have timelines to work with. In fact you guys of the media in Zambia what you should be asking for is a constitutional provision that allows you to have a distinct date when elections must be held. What democracy are you talking about when you allow some people to play some cards under the table and others on the table. This is simply making the field bumby for some.
Panic has settled in the opposition. Why cry for the announcement of the election as if the have never read the constitution?
How do they hope to rule the country if cant even understand the consitution? May be they dont even deserve the Zambians Vote.
Iwe Chanda. Chi/kala chobe. What are you talking about. We know you had a meeting with Dora Siliya. What were you discussing. WHY TALK ABOUT ICHIPU/BA NGA RB. I am truly irritated with you. We shall see you during our next PAZA election.
No wonder we don’t have freedom of press; ZNBC ToZ ZDM are all being abused and Mr Chanda Amos Chimba 4 is there very happy. I.D.I.O.T.
uRupiah Balya is fearing that when he dissolves parliament, MMD will be “NNP” Nashala Neka Party like that of BY Mwila, only Shikapwasha a coward will be backing uRupiah Balya.
Ka Bootsucker, this is MMD or SO called rb country so stop writing shit here
What is Amos Chanda up to of all the things to extent of defending RB’s failure to announce elections date. I suspect the guy has something sweet in his mouth. The fact is time is running out for those who would like to contest positions at varius levels. Why should RB keep the election date and dissolving cabinet to his chest. There is something wrong and Amos cant see.
Kindly ask Muvi TV to show the full tape (60 minutes) and you will see that of the 16 paras you posted from the Zanis story, only one is correct. was talking about media and elections and made less than 30 seconds response to a question on elections saying “well unfortunately the current constitution allows him and so no one can force him if he so chooses to kep it to himself, remember one president saud the date will come like a thief in the night!”
Then I said the proposed draft solves the problem cause it states when elections should be held in on a thursday in the last week of september every five years. I spent 30 mins conduct of ZNBC, Times and daily mail. I specifically mentioned the unethical productions aired on ZNBC. The ZANIS story also made me look for the Amos they quoted!
I listened to Mr. Chanda’s interview and my conclusion is that he spoke very well and in a principled manner. ZANIS have misquoted him and twisted what he said, in order to serve their masters. Shame on ZANIS!