Alliance for Good Governance (AGG) has appealed to the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to interpret Article 65 in the current constitution with regards the status of the two PF Members of Parliament vying for the Republican Presidency.
Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka today, Alliance Spokesperson MacDonald Chipenzi says the article in question states that a person who holds, or is validly nominated candidate in an election for, the office of president shall not be qualified for election as a member of national assembly.
Mr. Chipenzi says it is for this reason that LAZ should help to interpret the law to ascertainCHIPENZI FODEP whether or not Chawama MP Edgar Lungu and Matero MP Miles Sampa should remain in their elective constituency based seats as parliamentarians or relinquish them should one of them be validly nominated by the party.
Mr. Chipenzi wonders whether this entails a looming parliamentary by-election in either Chawama or Matero constituency.
Meanwhile the alliance has also appealed to the next government to ensure that they review the Public Order Act and Penal Code laws so that they are in line with the democratic tenets.
Mr. Chipenzi says the alliance also expects the new administration to do away with the NGO Act No 16 of 2009 which has brought great anguish in the civil society.
He adds that the Access to Information Law should immediately be enacted into law to strengthen anti-corruption crusade and ensure a transparent and accountable governance system in Zambia.
He adds that AGG expects the new government to reverse the statutory instrument that gave birth to the change of retirement age from 55 to 65 years especially taking into account the life expectancy in Zambia and high unemployment levels among the young people.
Mr Chipenzi adds that next government should also lift the unilaterally imposed wage and employment freeze.
LAZ is a toothless tiger, we wouldn’t have this mess if they weren’t.
Ba PF are really disappointing us ….. makofi, vibaka, kung-fu, hiya, kang’oto, WWE, boxing, panga, judo.
I see my sympathy vote slipping away.
Solola Bye!
It is a shame when so called educated people give their opinions without asnwering the most powerful question in the world. That question is “why”. It is easy and simplistic to simply say reverse so and so. Even a PF pleb or cadre can simply make such pronouncements. However, we expect more from these so called lawyers and educated people when they issue such statements. Tell us why you think that is best way or why we should reverse the situation. People need to learn to be analytical in their approach. It needs to be implemented in the school curriculum. Rather than copying notes all day, let people be analytical. Instead PF was busy introducing local languages in curriculum. Misplaced priorities.
LAZ are not the right chaps to do that at the moment all they will do is mislead the nation, the are Guy Scott’s people.
LAZ is not the right body to resolve this impasse. This is primarily a political issue and should be resolved by the two warring factions themselves. Whatever advice they give will be seen to be biased by one of the two factions.
Yeah, even that…i gues UPND will win even the Matero bye election- sorry EL fans he has lost it and he is not standing
Is Mr Chipenzi normal in his head? What we know is that none of the two (Malies and Lungu) is an official PF Presidential candidates yet since the two dragged each other to court and the court hasn’t determined which between the two GC was legal as per PF’s constitution. Secondly, none of the two has filled his nomination papers with ECZ so far so how does one relinquish his positions as member of parliament?
WHY CALL LAZ TO CORRECT ANOMALIES IN A CLUB CALLED PF.
JUST DE-REGISTER THIS CLUB AS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY SINCE THEY RIOT ON PUBLIC ROADS RATHER THAN THEIR SECRETARIAT.
In the us a senator can run for presidency and relinquish the senate after after victory I.e after becoming president. I do not think you have have to relinquish it based in the prospect but rather the reality… That is what the spirit of the clause should be. One only needs to choose which way to go I.e abide by separation of powers once both are a reality.
LAZ does not seem to possess a neutral position as are clearly inclined. Not rightful people. Candidate is there already and that is Edgar Lungu. What else should the nation be subjected to? people have chosen , why argue or refuse a DAVID given to the nation at the moment?
This is a very bad legacy – lies, confusion after confusion, lawsuit after lawsuit. I wonder if cabinet is working now in Zambia since the squables in FP and MMD the whole Attention has drifted to useless Topics of power struggle at the expense of the national matters like farming. Dont These politicians reliase that it is rainy season and People they will Food on the table next also. I am very disappointed. The boat has stopped moving and if we are not careful it will sink with all of us. Remember the Chinese Caeser when he dead all who mourned him they were buried togther with him.
… a person who holds, or is validly nominated candidate in an election for, the office of president shall not be qualified for election as a member of national assembly.
Does this need LAZ? No. Don’t bother LAZ needlessly. This sounds straight forward to me. This article to me aims to stop candidates vying for the presidency and house candidacy at the same time, as much as it aims to prevent a sitting president from trying to run for house membership. Where one one is a validly nominated presidential candidate, they can’t at the same time try to offer themselves for election as MP. Further to this, an individual who is already president, a subsisting president, that is (one who holds), can’t try to be elected member of the house again. So as I see it.
I think PF is dying. All these squabbles in a short space of time? Their issues keep deepening by the day. If it continues like this i don’t see PF in the next two years. Every one will have fled.
Rubbish! Why should LAZ be involved, when this is an internal PF matter?!
Whatever opinion LAZ offers is Null and Void. Next.
Alliance for Good Governance (AGG) Macdonold “Mapenzi” has just shown why and what his organization is about. Instead of having competent people running “Alliance for Good Governance (AGG)” and suggesting what is good governance he wants to suggest things he is NOT competent to speak of. Bwana it would do you well to go to Law school than show your ignorance. You were fighting for a job in another NGO now you want to give as “NONESENSE” to justify competence to donors? You’re an embarassment. Zambians are there no people who can speak for the voiceless than this fool? As for LAZ, the court has made a ruling. Any comment by LAZ would seem to undermine the bench. Further LAZ has not been seen to be partial or objective in the statements on PF.
We’ve heard Chisanga make/give an opinion only to change the organizations position on a matter within the same week. Doesn’t reflect well on a professional body. Nor does it give the notion that LAZ is a credible body. Is Bwana Chisanga’s opinion supported by the executive committee? Or just himself cause if the executive was aware then this reflects badly on them as well. How is the Secretary of LAZ that Chisanga should be the mouth piece of the organization. LAZ members and the old guards in LAZ maybe its time you did an introspective look at the body before you’re dragged into issues that you’re not party to.
If you go to Namibia, for a person to obtain a work permit, they will have to prove that the job they will do has been advertised in the public media and no Namibian is qua;lified to do that job, this has to be proven beyond resoanable doubt. what is the case in zambia, just pay so much and get a work permit.