THE National Constitution Convention sitting in Lusaka have rejected a proposal from the thematic group that looked at the Executive and Executive Power that a presidential candidate should have a minimum qualification of a first degree.
After a heated and protracted vote, the delegates agreed that the presidential candidate’s minimum would be grade 12 qualification.
Another proposal that the President, upon attaining the age of 80, should not continue to hold that office was rejected as other provisions of the law were clear on non-discrimination on age.
The delegates also adopted 107 the proposal that a Vice President shall be a running-mate to the presidential candidate during elections.
And after a vote, the convention adopted the proposal that the quorum for a meeting of the National Assembly shall be 50 per cent from the current one- third.
Article 148 of the first draft Constitution had recommended that the one-third majority should continue as stated in the current Constitution.
But after a lot of debate, the matter was taken to a vote and the new proposal for 50 per cent quorum was unanimously voted for.
The convention also rejected a proposal that parliamentary committee chairpersons should be ranked with a number of delegates.
They argued that the chairpersons were ordinary Members of Parliament (MPs) and were already being given some incentives for chairing the committee meetings.
The convention rejected a recommendation that the Speaker of the National Assembly should have a minimum of a first degree qualification before being appointed to the position.
The delegates endorsed Article 157 (1) under General Parliamentary Matters that the President, shall by-annually, attend and address the National Assembly.
It was resolved to delete Article 158 (1) in the draft Constitution that stated:”the National Assembly may pass a vote of no confidence in a Minister, provincial Minister or parliamentary secretary by resolution supported by two thirds of the votes of the MPs, in accordance with this Article.”
Under the General Provisions in Part XXI of the draft Constitution, the convention retained Article 309 (1) which provides that the English language remains the official language of Zambia.
Meanwhile, the National Constitution Convention which was expected to come to a close yesterday has been extended by a day and would now end today.
Chairperson of the Convention Professor Muyunda Mwanalushi announced yesterday that he expected that by end of yesterday, the convention would have completed deliberations on all contentious issues so that today the convention would come to the close.
The convention taking place at Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) started sitting on April 10, 2013 and was scheduled to be closed yesterday by Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba.
But due to the high volumes of work involved, the technical committee on drafting the Constitution decided to extend the deliberations by one day.
why?
With this kind of low balling and cultivation of scholarly underachievers to lead us don’t complain ati zed is being left behind.A zambian president shud have a degree at the MINIMUM.
Truly we need degree holders to lead us
but degree in what?? Massaging, dancing, washing, cooking, driving, coaching football, witchcraft, preaching, lumpenizing…….?????. This is how dull the degree thing is.
It gives the impression that this is as far as Zambian’s should aspire. There are no valid reasons why someone with only a G12 level of education can be president or CEO of the Nation, any nation for that matter. We ought to aim higher, say Bachelor level. Another instance this is likely rampant are the armed forces of Zed (ZAF, ZA) or law enforcement ( ZP, ACC…) were few in leadership positions have higher education levels, which makes them irrelevant in my eyes – or hooligans clothed in power and with bendable opinion and undue gov. influence. Pity.
As someone with MBA, ACCA,CIMA PhD soon, Msc, I think this is a travesty
Would love to see a minimum of a PhD
Even my fiance Nick has a Masters
Thanks
@ mushota… nick has masters… hahaha.. with a small white shaft
hahaha mushota even my nick this my nick that…this mushota might just be a guy, 200% gay…so nick is whipping that butt…white chaps invent holes if you ask me…
we know some of you have degrees in prostitution and witchcraft….its not possible leadership has got nothing to do with your degrees..some of us will soon be PhD holders but we see this as not possible
G12, come on guys what kind of a nation will that be?? If in yo own company u cant employee a G12, how then will u give such a person to Govern the Nation???
Leadership is not all about having PHDs,university degrees and so on and so forth.
Most of you guys who boast to be educated are the ones whose reasoning is quite shallow.Most of the things you do are theories that you dont even know the results.
Why do you call BALANGIZI when getting marriade.it means you lack wisdom though ABALANGIZI lacks Isukuru they solve your social problems.And that is the kind of LEADERSHIP we want which deals with social issues.Even a grade 7 i propose can stand as president as long as he is got wisdon and by the way a president is just A HEAD everything is done for him and he just Nods or veto. Simple!
according to conflict theorists of which am a member..credentialism is a mechanism employed by capitalists to uphold to their status quo..gentlemen read b4 u say something..consider the theoretical views..you know!!!!
comment above goes to ndobo #5
Ya!! grade 12 at least not bad…but some grade 12 certificates are very bad, really bad!. so look at that also
just for interest`s sake… ba mudala ba ukwa sata ni ba giladi shani mwebantu??
Ba Ukwa zebige bapelele mu giledi 2 bakaamba!
Fair enough
g12 is too law. diploma for 3 years will be better
This is pure nonsense. Minimum grade 12 certificate? Common guys. It’s difficult for people with only a grade 12 certifica to get a good job anywhere and one has the audacity to suggest that to be the minimum qualification for presidential candidates. There is something wrong with this picture here, at least I think…
I agree.How do you expect a G12 to supervise technocrats with degrees,masters and PHDs let alone articulate and comprehend compex issues. This country is just a joke mwe!
Why grade 12, in this day and age?
just for interest sake,,, kashi ba mudala ba ukwa sata ni ba giledi shani?????
G12? Iye Bwafya pa Zambia…….
The Man has got a first degree. Were you not following the events during the run up to 2011 General elections? MMD came up with that clause of a degree only to find that the man was ahead of them. These days one can get a degree on line within six months. What degrees are you boasting about!!! Even at Grade twelve levels most of these certificates were obtained through leakages.
You are an i.d.i.ot my friend!If it take up to 3years to get a diploma,do you honestly think you can get a genuine degree in six months?Typical of PF grade 2 f.o.o.ls!
The problem is that 98% of Zambians, which includes political leaders, do NOT have a degree and hence DO NOT understand what a degree does to one’s intellect. That is the very reason why they are all languishing in the streets without jobs because they have absolutely no appreciation for the value of education. Let them die in ignorance. But the fact is, in reality we will never again see a pure Grade 12 drop out be president again in this country. If someone wasn’t good enough to pass Grade-12, how can they run a country? Bunch of monkeys!
MCS 10 – NCC 0, hahaha from degree to G12 now, sata alibafumya fwaka.
Gentlemen and ladies read books before you open your big shallow mouth..what you are talking about is credentalism which we believe is a mechanism employed by the elites to maintain their status quo in the society..RB was a degree holder yet his leadership is rated the least in the history of Zambia..a degree is yours to cheat people that you know..some of you am sure graduated with silent..a degree is your paper which can be used as a toilet paper if you want and will lose nothing..come on reason!!!! someone of you cud have degrees in prostitution and witchcraft…
Rubbish! Grade 12 with a back ground of environmental science and social studies can’t equipment an executive office for such
This is interesting indeed. For me my question is what attributes are we looking at in a president-whether grade 12 or university graduate? I stand to be corrected but is there a school where one graduates at a potential president?
If a grade 12 has enough calibre to outdo a university graduate and win an election is it not just fair that such a shrewd grade 12 should rule the country that have an under-performing and under-achieving graduate? Lets be real and objective in making decisions-how many failed university graduates have we seen in Zambia and how many successful grade 12 have we seen in Zambia? Well you are the judges
Well done NCC. To talk about degrees in Zambia when for long time we have had only 1 meaningful university (UNZA) is a way of discriminating majority of intelligent Zambians who have had no opportunity to get degree. CBU came in later. We are just beginning to have universities now and the degree requirement should wait for 10 years from now. No one fails to go to university in Zed. Formal education is not everything and examples of people who failed at colleges and have performed wonders are there like Late Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Great Men and women of God. There are so many people who have passed through universities but versities have not passed through them and many have not passed through universities but verities have passed through them. MCS has 2 degrees already.
A grade 12 should not be allowed in state house. A grade 12 cannot lead. He/ she must be led. In these times when our kids score high marks due to LEAKED exams? No, no.
A grade 12 has not developed or acquired the tools to lead or to be visionary. Normally such people talk too much to cover up their short comings. Most times they will appoint professors, or phd’s to be ministers but are themselves not equipped to realise it when the appointees are swindling the country. Don’t confuse country leadership issues with entrepreneurship. A grade12 can be an entrepreneur. But don’t take him/her into State House. The future of a country is then in total jeopardy. He/she is soon compromised by crafty Indians or Chinese, or Germans. He/she is not equipped to analyse crafty, educated minds.
Good luck with that
Are Zambians FOOLS. Who comes up with such Great Ideas, what’s the point of having an education when you can be a President at grade seven level. The should close all universities and colleges. You can still run a country. The country needs to boycot this or is it too late. Zambians are backwards if the stand for this.
lekenifye ififine, mbuya kuti aisunkilishako amitekako. ala mukalalya bane mbuya alitemwa ukalya. yabalansa mbuya idonseleshefye nangu ni tulikage ubikemo. Kabili ifweko fwebapwisha amasambililo yonse ayaba pachalo tulinomba disqualified
pipo talking about degree blaa! blaa! Are those who ve a low self esteem coupled with a bruised ego. Degree! Utter cowdung to say the least.
I reject this constitution. I don’t want to be led by someone who can’t event interpreted the law. Grade 12 for president of a country? This is the most stupid decision. Who are the these delegates? Love is not love of country, this is selfish.
Please leave this Grade 12 or degree nonsense OUT of the constitution. People of Zambia are educated enough to elect a person they think will lead them forward. They will NOT elect a person because of having a degree or being a grade 12 or what ever.