Renowned Lusaka based lawyer Sakwiba Sikota says the country’s constitution has no requirement that a government Minister must resign when vying for presidency.
Mr. Sikota’s observation follows repeated calls that Justice and Defense Minister Edgar Lungu resigns from his government positions owing to the fact that he is campaigning to become republican President and therefore he will not have time to execute his duties as Minister besides him falling in a possible temptation of using government resources in his campaigns.
In an interview with Qfm News, Mr. Sikota who is a constitutional lawyer and opposition United Liberal Party (ULP) president notes that the only provision the country’s constitution has is that, in exception of both the republican President and the vice president, anyone that is vying for the position of the Country’s highest office should not use government resources on campaigns.
Mr. Sikota says this means Mr. Lungu can continue campaigning while holding on to the two positions of Justice and Defense Minister provided he does not use government resources.
He says from his observation so far Mr. Lungu who is the PF candidate for the January 20th 2015 presidential election has not fallen out of this provision of law.
The renowned Lusaka based lawyer states that he has personally taken note that from the campaigns that the Justice and Defense Minister has conducted he has used private helicopters for his transport.
He says he however hopes Mr. Lungu will continue complying with law by not using government resources in his campaigns.
Morality is not law.
He should relinquish
Thanks
BB 2014
Do you mean to say that if Sata was alive and vying for a second term, he should have stepped down during campaign period? After all, presidents are the ones who have abused public resources during campaigns. I’m yet to see that in Edgar
What morality are you talking about? Tell me of a sitting President or member of cabinet world-wide who resigned from their position to go and campaign to be elected or re-elected into office? Why do you want to subject Edgar Lungu to standards that have not been followed by anyone anywhere? Is it because you wanted childish Sampa to be PF president?
I honestly conclude that Sakwiba Sikota is just a bootlegging lawyer who has taken people for granted.
Bo Saki, how is your own party doing by the way? What a loss, Saki you have definitely lost it.
Mwaluswabisa!
This is how flopping and loose our law is, in developed countries such observations ( declaring compaign funds and relinquishing post by a candidate) are taken seriously by experts and proposed to be in acted.
What sort of lies are these now? muleikalafye tondolo when you are not well informed.. its wise. who told you in the USA the sources of funds are disclosed have you ever heard of the word super PACs?
Read the constitution man, there is no provision that say EL should relinquish his positions and more over he is not using the tax pares money period.
Law vs morality, is question paused by Mushota!!!!!!! I think after nominations he will resign from his parliamentary office and subsequently loses his positions as minister. Am not a lawyer but just thinking in these lines.
Why leave it to molarity and not make it law to compel moral and immoral candidates meet on level terms.
No the law provides that he can hold on to those positions until the results are announced. Even when the president dissolves parliament to pave way for the next parliamentary elections, those members of parliament who were appointed cabinet ministers still remain as cabinet ministers. During previous elections cabinet ministers were using government resources to campaign and nobody had problems with it.
Constitution is a grow document. Developing as need arises till it meets and deliver a favourable playing field for all.
How about the law of the jungle? Someone bigger will come along.
Or the law of averages? Tis one to many roles for one guy so spread it around.
Or sod’s law? I won’t go there but let’s just say we’re experiencing it a lot lately. Chuckle.
just leave him alone he is within your constitution your supreme law , solution is to change it stop crying ba muntu lekeni tubombeko
Well done Saki for the timely highlight…
Great Leader in EL.
EL you have my support all the way…
Saki, why half truth?
What the Law says about Member of Parliament standing for election for President?
And if you are NOT MP, how can you be Minister?
Please Saki, read again slowly, you may get it at the end.
All the more reason WHY our constitution MUST BE OVERHAULED! Candidates MUST vacate constitutional office once THEY FILE candidature at the very latest!! You can’t hide behind paragraphs on this MORAL/ETHICAL point bo Sakwiba….eeeish !
Q: So Hon. EL, what is your education policy?
A: Ah Ah I am not the education minister, go and ask the education minister…..
On radio Pheonix
this just made my day.
we are voting for HH come 20.01.2015 bwana
Chumbu Mulolwa
Asp LT BB2015
Why leave it to molarity and not make it law to compel moral and immoral candidates meet on level terms.
you can’t trust an African on moral groups. Our history has proved it.
Make it law.
Just as there is no Law requiring political party to disclose financiers. Period.!
Flight HH 2015 Boarding Big Time.
Sakwiba , has started the nonsense again, why can’t he just concentrate to his party if at all, one exist, now you want to eat with PF, he is a shame lawyer.
Flight HH 2015, about to land
IN FACT HE EVEN HOLD BOTH POSITIONS AND THE PRESIDENCEAS WELL. LATE LEVY MWANAWASA GAVE HIMESELF POSITION OF DIFENCE MINISTER AND APPOINTED LATE CHITALU SAMPA AS DEPUTY
It would be wrong to assume that the PF has lost the support of any of its voters. UPND seem to either deliberately or cowardly omit the wooping electoral response that Edgar Lungu will receive in Eastern Province, a hard fought tussle with RB there could be all but the determining factor in this election. For all the votes that HH will get in Southern Province, Lungu will mitigate with his support from Copperbelt. The real kingmaker in this election is the RB factor. RB will disrupt UPND support in Western, North-Western and Central Provinces. But mark my words, a low voter turn out could play very well into HHs hands! He must focus on igniting his base rather than wooing opposition voters!
RB in gaining votes Western province? Who ordered the shooting of innocent protesters?
Wakw up Voldemort,the tide is changing.
If you would like to know whether Edgar is presidential material, ask yourself this question: if PF loses in Jan 2015, is EL going to manage to keep PF moving forward? Your answer answers the question on whether EL is presidential material.
Who told you he’s losing? Kagame losing? Sela tupwishe ukubomba waumfwa.
Bush lawyers who have come to town
there should also be a law to compel harlots like mushota to relinguish blogging when they have nothing to say.