The United Party for National Development (UPND) says Zambians should not get excited by Cabinet’s resolution to hold the referendum on the new constitution next year along the general elections.
UPND Deputy Spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo has told QFM News by telephone that the PF is known for not fulfilling promises therefore people should not get excited to avoid being disappointed.
Mr. Lifwekelo says the UPND has welcomed the announcement by the government to hold a referendum next year, stating that it will be a plus for them if they can enact a new constitution.
He however says it will be disappointing if the country will not hold the 2016 General Elections under the new constitution because Zambians needed a new constitution like yesterday.
Mr. Lifwekelo says it is easier for the PF to promise to amend the Referendum Act and subsequently hold a referendum but fears that they might not fulfill that promise.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Zambia Eric Schultz says holding a referendum alongside an election is the cost effective way.
Speaking during a lecture on “US- Zambia partnership and the way forward” at the University of Zambia (UNZA) today, Ambassador Schultz says whenever Zambia decides to hold the planned referendum, the United States might be able to help fund the process.
And Ambassador Schultz says Zambia has had a solid record of economic growth over the past ten years partly as of result of a global boom in commodities.
He says the high interest rates in turn are one of the biggest obstacles to maintaining and accelerating Zambia’s growth.
He notes that commodity prices started to fall at the same time that government spending began to increase.
Ambassador Schultz adds that the fuel shortages and the mining tax impasse coupled by the depreciating currency are all manifestations of the increasingly difficult fiscal situation.
He stresses that if Zambia is to achieve its enormous economic potential, the government needs to reduce spending thereby reducing domestic interest rates and allowing the private sector to drive the economy.
Ambassador Schultz further states that Zambia needs to recommit to private sector driven growth as well as commit to more open and transparent policy making if the economy has to continue thriving.
And UNZA Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Enala Tembo says Zambia has benefited a lot from the various technical and financial support programmes and projects extended through the people of the United States of America.
And Political Scientist Alex Ng’oma has encouraged all stakeholders to support the holding of the referendum on the constitution alongside the 2016 General elections saying it is cost effective.
Dr. Ng’oma has told QFM News in a telephone interview that the announcement by government should motivate the opposition because it’s a positive move.
He says it is now up to the relevant stakeholders to support the government so that the country can have a new constitution by next year.
He says there is need for unity of purpose among political players stating that the process requires all stakeholders to be united.
Dr. Ng’oma has since advised the Zambian people to be patient with the government over the constitution making process considering the political will they have shown in delivering the new constitution.
HH will never rule this country period
PF are Pathetic liars even the devil is afraid of them. Are you God to make such a declaration you fool.
Well upnd lamentably failed to excite the Zambian people with their 215 utopian promises to be fulfilled in 18 months.
PF may not be able to fulfill all their promises, but they have done so on many of them
Give me one govt anywhere in the world that has fulfilled all its promises
Ukutumpa aba bakabalwe ba upnd
Spoken like a true PF uneducated id!ot. Your stup!d Government U-turned on the announcement less than an hour after announcing the referendum nonsense. Hopeless creatures. No wonder you are dull, always dreaming of HH day in and out and that is why you cannot concentrate on fixing the economy with your president who also needs fixing. Ulichipuba.
Gen, I beg of you, kindly list down these promises they have fulfilled apart from the roads and the infrastructure most of it only partly done because contractors have not been paid and have abandoned these projects. Please indulge us because we may genuinely not be seeing what you are seeing.
Honestly foolishness has overridden you!! Your Lungu can’t rule, he can’t govern,he’s politically impotent!! Help him come out of the mess! I just hope you’re a beneficiary of this regime!! Otherwise Nawakwi has already spoken!! Olozenyi ukawa nawa uchileya nawulima!!
Don’t compare your stupid with people who are educated. If you know that you cant even be a ward councilor anywhere.
HH is very health than Edgar. He is controlling his diet compared to these PF big berries.
I sympathyse with HH. He cant win an election. He is politically impotent.He doesnt know when to say what. Please VJ , try to spin doc HH
32% voted on overall .Out of that the all southern province voted.
UPND get to the table properly
YOU ARE A VERY STUPID ROTTEN TRIBALIST! WHO TOLD YOU THAT HH WILL NEVER RULE OUR COUNTRY? ARE YOU THE ONLY VOTER IN ZAMBIA TO DECIDE AGAINST HH? TAKE YOUR STINKING TRIBALISM AWAY. YOU ARE SO RETROGRESSIVE IN YOUR MIND. YOU NEED SPIRITUAL CLEANSING.
No wonder EL didn’t sign that social contract to fulfill the promises.
They can surely shift goal-posts at will.
When has PF ever fulfilled its promises. They lie through their teeth. Yaluma was lying to the nation that the country had enough fuel in storage when in fact not. It surprises me that such behaviour from the likes of Yaluma are not disparaged by PF zealots
Are you God? If you not God then you must be dreaming.
PF are Pathetic liars even the devil is afraid of them.
And that devil is HH no so sir?
I love the Constitution of the United Kingdom. It was not written in one time. It has evolved with time and it still evolving. Not this rubbish called TO STAND THE TEST OF TIME as if time is static.
What Constitution of the UK are you talking about? The UK does not have and I repeat DOES NOT HAVE a written constitution. Go and ask Mutembo Nchito if you are still arguing.
Its do kubeba but dont ku doer.
Ba UPND na babachaya 10-0 so nomba kulasabailafye…
There will be a referendum, PERIOD!
Israel has no constitution but just a set of few rules. Why is UPND insisting on a constitution that will stand a test of time………….the document must be relevant to time and season. Lifwekelo Grow Up
It took America plus 100 years to come up with a constitution and even so its not perfect. Racism is very rife in US and so what is the problem with HH? Why cant he concentrate on respecting his party constitution and let others lead his dead party?
I think UPND are very dull chaps indeed! How can one failure hold them by their b0ws for this long and yet yields nothing?
Alinaswe you are the one who shld grow up. A constition governs the nation. If it provided for the vice president to take over at the demise of the president ,there would have been no costly by elections.Zambians please why are we becoming so simple?
PF 10:UPND 0
Do you know what that means! When campaign for 2016 begin, UPND will be campaigning to say ” go and vote for UPND but make sure you also vote to accept the constitution”. What does that mean…………………………… If you a a genius like me? This will be land slide victory for PF.
Sir G you’re just an *****! You and your Of are just politically impotent, you have failed to govern the country TUWA ENU. Foolishness has overridden you. It you have brains help your Lungu to solve this cups!! Unevuko nge uli namanga kawaove!
HH will definitely lose next year’s election as it is obvious that the current people driven constitution will be applied when Zambian’s re – elect Edgar Chagwa Lungu as president. From the look of things UPND is not a bankable project sorry to its share holders and sympathisers kekekeke. …..
Which Edgar? Is he going to be there at election time next year? Just asking, dont insult me……!!
Ba UPND balepolomya. One of their major campaign theme has been diffused. What next? Watch the space! EDGAR will make them polomya even more! Fuel prices will soon come down further, Mealie meal prices down, Denny Kalyalya will soon stabilse the Kwacha and Chikwanda is making headways with the mines. More Universities coming, more roads!!!! PF ni makali!
OKAYANGA EEBO! MATI PF A LUNGU NGU MAKKALI. MAKKALI AAKUMATAKO KANEEBO! NYWEBO NOTULUMBU MULITUYANGA TOPU. MUYANDIKA KUPWAYA MABAYI.
You must be informed that there will be three things that people will be considering.
If a UPND cadre goes to vote he will be no to PF, yes to the constitution and yes to UPND.
simuona ve niona………
Thanks!
Chair.
It doesn’t matter what you UPND chaps decide bearing in mind that you are a minority
It doesn’t matter what you UPND chaps decide bearing in mind that you are a minority and we shall endeavour that you remain so
Holding referendum alongside general elections does not make any sense at all. The savings of such a move will be lost if there is another by-election before then, not that I wish there is but anything is possible under the sun! What about the other rights we want as Zambians which are in the new constitution-are those rights inferior to those dealing with elections?
Parliament can enact or amend the law on bye elections even today if they want. UPND can move a motion.
I long miss the days of white olonialism when we fought for freedom than these days of purported freedom when we are under black colonialism,a man-eat-man society. Zambians, demand your second liberation.
You were crying lungs out for the “new” constitution, there it is, chapter closed. Fire HH or disband UPND is the only option here. MMD has accepted to merge with PF where does it leave the Under Five?
Under 5 nechilitebela cha misu.
Reading most of thes blogs you would think there are two countries called PF & UPND at war with each other.
Over a period of time now, i have been analysing the comments from the two camps; UPND and PF.
1. The comments from PF seem to indicate that they are only interested in seeing to it that HH does not rule zambia. They have no tangible economic reasons that led them to vote except to make sure that their candidate goes through whether he has a vision or not.
2. the comments from UPND seem to indicate that they have a concern for the economy of the country, but they don’t seem to have the capacity to influence every body to follow them
3. The two parties seem to keep distance on tribal lines; though it seems to be fading with time.
4. The PF camp seem to realise that there are a lot of flaws in their leader, however, they are well bent on making sure that HH and his followers…
Cont’d
…don’t enjoy any peace by sending comments centred on HH’s “never going rule theory”
5. They UPND supporters seem to have been driven into disarray after the loss of elections and they seem to wonder whether HH is the right candidate or not.
6. There is serious fear and apprehension on the part of PF supporters regarding the popularity of HH and they don’t seem to have any more points to bring him down except mere speculation.
7. The recent slump in the economy seems to have boosted the moral of UPND supporters and they have found their voice again.
Does UPND supporters know that it is easier to pass exams in business courses than it is to pass in law. I find it senseless for the UPND supporters to label EL as uneducated. most of these cadres are mere grade 12 who spend time insulting leaders because they dont have the necessary skills and competences to get jobs. it’s cheaper to do a business course like their leader HH. even with a grade 9 certificate one qualify for a business. leave law to sharps fellows like EL and Jack Mwiimbu at least. not kambwanga HH
Nduwa Mukwasa…… Running mate means you are trying to cure the mischief of having costly by-election. But again your UPND and HH want 50 % plus one. Meaning the first round of voting there isn’t going to be a clear winner in the first round of voting looking at our demography. So we are going to have another election to elect the winner in the second round, So the same mischief you are trying to cure will recur with 50$ plus one despite having a running mate…,,,,,,,Twapapata ba UPND
Can you explain to us how he stole his client’s money? He failed to run his law firm. How can he run a country?
Mana naimwe mulibasushi. HH has never been convicted in any competent court outside and within Zambia
So is ECL. He has not been convicted by any court. The only difference is that ECL is electable material whereas HH can never be elected by universal adult franchise
Umuntu mutwe ba muchaya U5 namatebela futi.cry my baby..cry for attention…..kikikikiki