Information and Broadcasting Service Minister Kennedy Sakeni has dismissed as misleading continued speculations suggesting that the Patriotic Front government is to blame for continued hosting of by-elections in the country.
Mr. Sakeni who is Chief government spokesperson has maintained that by-elections are a constitutional matter and there is need for people to understand that vacancies of parliamentary seats occur for various reasons.
Mr. Sakeni has stressed that there is nothing the PF government can do apart from ensuring that a by- election is held when a Member of Parliament crosses the floor as doing so is a constitutional right.
The chief government spokesperson has further contended that the question of by-elections being an unplanned cost is not justified as the constitution and democracy carries its own cost which includes expenditure at whatever by-election that takes place in the country.
Mr. Sakeni said this when he featured on a good governance programme at radio ichengelo in Kitwe, Copperbelt province.
UPND is to blame.It has chased a lot of its MP`S who only wanted to work with the government.
#1.Your analysis and knowledge of the topic at hand is myopically shallow.Why is that under MMD,we had few bye elections.When Sata expelled his MP’s,the seats were not declared vacant until the general elections, Why ?Because of cost implications.Is it UPND that wants to get the 103 seats and turn Zambia into a One Party state.Why are the opposition MP’s being appointed deputy ministers upon defection from their parties?
@REDSQUARE, your analysis is even worse than being “myopically shallow”. Because yours is a bluntant lie. The PF members of parliament who were expelled/suspended during MMD rule sought a court injuction and was granted. That is only reason we did not have by-elections for those seats. It was NEVER about the MMD govt taking into account “cost implications.” Get your facts straight before you expose yourself and your bias!
By-elections are a Constitutional issue that neither PF nor any other political Party can do anything about. Like the minister has said, MPs have the right to resign, crossover, even die. And Constitutionally the govt is obligated to call for a by-election whenever such an occurance happens. Change the Constitution if you want to stop by-elections, kwamanaa!
@yambayamba – your reasoning is rather partisan and NOT impartial: if it is NOT PF behind by elections – why are all defecting MP’s being offered positions in govt. is that what the constitution says? Oh common get real – we all can see thru the hollow and shallow charade of such statements – you insult the integrity and intelligence of all Zambians!
ok all of you, let me make it simple for you! the only why reason sata and PF is appointing opposition MPs as ministers is because PF is full uneducated kaponyas who can read or write, therefore they cannot be appointed as Ministers..
Ulemona, if UPND is not to blame for the by elections, why do they participate in the by elections? They have not missed not even one. You need to be analytical before you open your orifice to release the bad breath on an issue that is straight forward. By elections are a matter of constitution and until things change, by elections will continue period. The same reason UPND participate in the by elections is the same reason PF is using to offer the defectors a place in the government. Look at upnd and Dr Caniscious. How come he was given a VP position after he defaecated from MMD? Suppose UPND was in power today, what do you expect they are going to do? PF is a political party hence it practices politics nothing else.
@Ulemona, what is partisan about my statement? I think @Dora SC has given a perfect answer for your misguided arguments. Look, politics is game of numbers, and Political parties will always find ways to increase their numbers, especially if it means putting their political competitors on the disadvantage by peeling off people of influence (in this case MPs) from the other side. There is nothing Unconstitutional about that and neither is it a crime.
UPND is doing it, PF is doing it, and MMD has done it in the past. So why should it be unacceptable only when PF does it? And you want to call me partisan for stating the truth? You can complain all you want and hide behind unfounded accusations, but that is NOT going to help change your political fortunes on the ground. GET A GRIP!
@Yambayamba and @Dora SC. constitution is not doctrine or even the divine truth. yes its everyone’s right to do as they please but is it morally right? do we keep breaking the bank to pay and run an over sized Gov? you put people in a tight corner, volatile food and transport prices.
@oscar 9milli pistol, I really have very little patience and respect for people like you who do not believe in the CONSTITUTION and what it stands for. It is people like you who have helped destroyed Africa.
If you want to argue a Constitutional truth on moral grounds, please go have that discussion with your Pastor/rev and leave it at your Church door steeps. Because your sense of what is moral might NOT exactly be the same as mine or others.
If you want to legislate morals, have fun doing it but leave us who believe in the Constitution alone. We have a Secular Constitution in Zambia for a good reason!
Dishonorable Sekani, please stop insulting Zambians. We all know that constitutionally you are right but we equally know that the PF is enticing opposition MP’s to cross the floor at the expense of the suffering majority and that is where you and the PF are morally too corrupt to lead a nation. Try another lie and one that could be more palatable.
Mr. Sakeni don’t insult our intelligence.What democracy are you talking about and look at who is talking about upholding the constitution.PF has lost credibility not only in Zambia but all over the world and not forgetting SADC.
sakeni the shortage of HIVs is affecting him again… can some please address that stortage!!!
Supoosed they get enticed, any reasons they accept to cross over to PF? Are they not principled? or Could they be wrong chaps to have stood on their repective opposition tickets?Why others have accepted appontments without crossing over and their parties(UPND) continues to harass them for that? UPND is jealous of the apppointed MPs.
@Yambayamba and @Dora SC. constitution is not doctrine or even the divine truth. yes its everyone’s right to do as they please but is it morally right? do we keep breaking the bank to pay and run an over sized Gov? you put people in a tight corner, with volatile food and transport prices.
When are you dying..