Republican Vice President Guy Scott has disclosed that the decision to co-opt opposition Members of parliament into government by President Michael Sata is meant to make it easy for the government to pass legislation in Parliament.
Dr Scott explains that in view of the hang parliament in which no political party emerged with an absolute majority following the 2011 general elections, it was going to be difficult for the PF government to pass legislation.
He says it for this reason that President Michael Sata decided to co-opt some opposition members of parliament to his government as deputy ministers for them to vote with the ruling party in parliament.
The Vice President has further stated that the opposition parties expelling their members of parliament for accepting ministerial positions in the PF government should be the ones to blame for causing by-elections.
He says UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema knows very well that by expelling Sinazongwe Member of Parliament Richwell Siamunene, there will be a by-election with 90 days as stipulated by the republican constitution.
Dr Scott also conceded that the by-elections are a drain on state confers by that there is nothing the PF government can do except change the republican constitution.
And Dr Scott says government is very much willing to review the Public Order Act.
He however says this will not be done while the Act is subject to judicial review proceedings before the courts of law.
The Law Association of Zambia has challenged the constitutionality of the Public Order Act in its current form in the High Court.
Dr Scott was speaking on Muvi TV’s the Assignment last evening.
kupusa!
Would love to see him as the president of Zambia
Whites hereditary have something that we blacks perpetually is missing, ie common sense
History tells you that when whites rule a country is impartial, tribalism,prejudice are not entertained
That is why I am marrying one
Thanks
@“mushota“
The real mushota is from UK scotland!! … not you, impersonator with that flag.. cant you see that people can tell that you are NOT real mushota?????!
Opposition thot that they would frustrate us by expelling their mps but alas, they are finishing their census making it better for us
Yeah man.I like that.Long live guy sikote.
If you have to explain yourself everytime you make a decision then something ain’t right.
forgot one more reason was to avoid an impeachment process incase mmd and upnd teamed for such a motion.
Who would have guessed? PF has been denying (lying about!) this for months.
“Dr Scott also conceded that the by-elections are a drain on state confers but that there is nothing the PF government can do except change the republican constitution.”
Nothing? Awww…. poor, poor, helpless PF! Although….. Guy….. I suppose you could always stop enticing MPs to defect as you just admitted PF is doing. Try that.
Or maybe the bit you haven’t told us yet is that PF is going for a super majority to “change the republican constitution” however it wants? What do you think, could that also be true?
Legislation should be passed on its own merits. It is sad that Guy Scott expects MPs from the ruling Party to support any piece of legislation from government be it a bad or good piece of law. Any good government should be motivated to pass good pieces of legislation that can be supported by MPs from both the govt and opposition. An MP from the ruling party should also not be expected to support a piece of legislation simply because his party is in govt. Guy Scott I think that you are basically an evil govt with very evil intentions. Please Go and ahead and do whatever you want to do. But be rest assured; you will fail. Africa is littered with failed political projects by self serving leeches like Messrs Sata and Scott! You will soon become footnotes like many before you!
Unfortunately, that is how it works in African politics. Otherwise, you get hounded out of the party. But the more civil way of getting the opposition on to your side and avoid by-elections is to approach an opposition party leader and ask him/her to enter into some pact with them. They will then recommend their MPs you can work with. Bounce off would be controversial policies with them in confidence so that once you get their buy-in then you know they’ll vote with you. Approaching individual MPs upsets opposition party leaders because as a matter of analogy, it is like one has eloped with their “daughter.”
The leaders in the PF are really a confused bunch. From one mouth they say they are an inclusive govt and want to work with the opposition to bring developmet and from the other mouth they admit they had a motive for enticing opposition MPs to work for them! If the policies brought to parliament are well-meaning then even opposition MPs can support them. By bribing MPs it already indicates corruption and that the policies are not intended to benefit the people who voted them into power. 2016 is too far and Zambia is really in maningi trouble as Liwewe would have said.
viva magande
Don’t the poached mps feel used? I would like a door mat. Perhaps they have no conscience whatsoever but it is sad. What kind men (Mps) are they?????
No they do not. Usually in such things you look for the most vulnerable. Baja ma Judas and those with tumilandu like Namulambe. Some are blackmailed into accepting the position. E.g. ba tumilandu and those who initially genuinely approach Government for funding of developmental projects in their constituencies. The latter are told that they can be helped but have to give something in return (i.e. give us your vote in parliament or a foreign service posting (like the guy now serving in Mozambique)). There is also cash that changes hands so the weak ones even get weaker. The only time they feel used is after they are abandoned.
Guy Scott is right. You see, for any government to function, it must be able to pass legislation. Just look at America and see what political gridlock there is because president Obama does not have the majority in Congress. Democrats have brilliant plans but the govt cannot implement them because Republicans who are in control of Congress keep shooting down even common sense policies such as gun control. In our situation, the only way MCS and PF can avoid that gridlock is to de-populate the opposition and build a majority in parliament. Talking to people like HH and Nervous Mumba cannot work because those gentlemen have vowed to frustrate the PF government. Those two would like PF to fail so that they can be voted in. .
The pertinent issue really is whether or not ruling parties in the country have the right to accept or recruit opposition party members as well. The emphatic answer is, yes of course. This is about individual freedom and liberty. The rest is imaterial. Exercise your patience. If you look carefully, then you will see some ruling party members also moving to the opposition or better still opposition party members moving from one opposition party to another. Democracy needs fresh air to sustain its respiratory system. Party membership is not necessarily a life membership. There is no need to change the goal post abruptly.
In what is seemingly becoming typical of your responses, you have missed the point again. People are not against crossing the floor per se but against doing it for individual benefits and self-preservation. People are wary of the financial costs (to the nation) of that floor crossing and how such funds could be better employed.