PF Member Fr Frank Bwalya says there is nothing wrong with allowing President Edgar Lungu to serve for more than two terms.
In an interview, Fr Bwalya said the law is clear that a President in Zambia shall be elected to serve a maximum of two terms.
He said those that are opposed to suggestions that President Lungu be allowed to serve beyond 2021 are missing the point.
“The people opposed to this seem to suggest that there seems to be this invisible law that when a President dies, then the one who takes over has to finish a term of the one who was there,” Fr Bwalya said.
He continued, “What happens if an opposition leader wins an election after the death of the incumbent? Does that mean that the new leader will be asked to finish a term of the ruling party?” Fr Bwalya asked.
Fr Bwalya has since challenged the Law Association of Zambia to provide guidance on this matter.
“What is interesting is that the same LAZ as guided us that there is no presidential by election, what happens when a President dies in office is just an election to replace the one who died, the constitution does not have anything like a presidential by election”.
He added, “So if it is just a presidential election, why should the one who is elected finish the term of the one who was there, so this is a very interesting debate and LAZ should guide us.”
Is this really Fr. Bwalya? Empty stomachs can be very good teachers!
Jackals and Hyenas hiding in priestly gowns. What a shame. He should have told us what EL has done to deserve a third term. Is it in order for him to get a job? Selfishness.
Ba Frank muletusebanya fwe Bena Katolika, yaba!! By the way, why are there no more pastoral letters from the Catholic Bishops eversince 2011?
The Zambian presidence has been cheapened, it is being championed by the scum of the earth, such as this fallen priest. Zambia is a democracy and you can not be advocating that a sitting president should continue into the future at your pleasure as if there won’t be elections. What positive achievements are there so far to even think he is a messiah of the Zambian difficulties? To be frank, Frank has lost the little honour the Zambians thought he had, but such cadres talk.
He has a point
I like Bwalya m people undermining him are only doing so because he is Bemba. I suspect anyone opposing is either Tonga, Lozi or from Eastern province.
Shut up and respect and think about it for a second, what Father Balya is saying.
Just because he is bemba you sweep his statements under the carpet-why?
You are delusional and need help mentally if you disagree with him
Thanks
BB2014
Father Bwalya deserves to smoke the good stuff, the bad stuff he smokes makes him open his mouth like a sick goat.
ICI CIMUNTU CIPUBA NACHENA SANA? DO YOU REALLY WANT TO PLUNGE ZAMBIA INTO CIVIL WAR? ARE YOU BLIND TO HAPPENINGS IN BURUNDI? ONCE CIVIL WAR HAPPENS IN ZAMBIA ALL INVESTOR (BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL) CONFIDENCE WILL BE LOST. ZAMBIA WILL BE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN AFRICA WITH NO DISTINCTIONS. MWALIBO BUSUSHI MU AFRICA. CONSTITUTION SAYS TWO TERMS. IFIPUBA NOFYO FYAISA ATI THREE TERMS. ASK WHAT HAPPENED TO CHILUBA.
Can someone please give this rat a job, please
The only opening I have for him is that of garden boy but I suspect he is under qualified.
He has dipped his fingers in the trough that is why he is yapping like a mad man.Kambwili was right when he said ,’Umupatili nga a amba ama politics balapena.’This man has the right to do what he wants but ni muselela kwakaba big style. The driving force behind his bu muselela kwakaba is tax payers money.
He made a party of ten people which he has shown a red in preference for the careless PF who are running the nation on Kaloba.
THIS CHAP IS DULL BEYOND ANYONE’S IMAGINATION AND STUPID TO THINK LUNGU CAN TAKE ZAMBIA ANYWHERE. I THINK HE IS BEEN HAUNTED BY THAT CHICKEN THAT HE SLAUGHTERED. PLEASE DO NOT EVEN CALL HIM FATHER ANYONE. I DO NOT THINK GOD APPROVES OF SUCH BEHAVIOUR AND STATEMENTS FOR A MAN OF GOD ADVOCATING FOR MORE SUFFERING FOR HIS OWN PEOPLE THROUGH THE WORST ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT. LUNGU AND HIS PROVEN FAILURES (PF) MUST LEAVE BY 2016.
When the madness of an entire nation disturbs a solitary mind, its not enough to say the man is mad. Lets whip him sparingly this time, he is a lunatic on the run.
mmmmmm seriously ba father Frank??????
How is this Mr a father? From what I am told he doesn’t even have any children. Who is this guy? Is he even Zambian, what is his history? We need to be careful with some of these people who might be working with foreign agents to destabilise the nation, having a Zambian name isn’t enough, he needs to be checked! A Zambian who shows such disdain and respect for our values and rule of law has to come under our scrutiny or we risk our country being a subject of foreign influence and we end up having our independence compromised.
That’s what happens when politics is a means of life and not service to the people,if left to PF Zambia is heading some way as Zimbabwe.
Please Zambians do not be detailed by the natural preference by Bembas to cause chaos and irrelevant discussions. What Bwalya is vomiting is useless and a waste of time. Zambians are better off planting some vegetables or doing their kachema duties than discussing a third term for Lungu. Lungu has failed to run Zambia. That’s why we are having power cuts, a runaway Kwacha, a Greek-style debt burden, and targeted genocidal comments from PF against Tongas.
Oh how I wish you could just make your point without being tribal. Am afraid you would not be able to do all those kachema and veggie growing duties in times of civil war. Civility should be paramount in your comments not bush!t of Tonga that Bemba that…nauseating really!
On PF pay roll, and also a job in the offing. Frank, Tell your friends in crime kabili, that is why we are saying the constitution is defective.
What is the problem, even if an opposition candidate wins, and is dethroned after the year he was finishing for the late President; I thought that is always a clear issue, even when they all campaign to finish the remaining term? Why would a President really want to complete at least 10 years, no matter what, no matter what his performance says? Let us take politics as a service, where, if your services are no longer required, you step aside!
Straight to the comments!!
I’m not a lawyer but I’m going to guide Father Bwalya here. Here’s what the constitution says: –
34. [Election of President]
(1) The election ……..
(2) An election to the office of President shall be held whenever the National Assembly is dissolved and otherwise as provided by Article 38.
35. [Tenure of office of President] (1) Subject to clause (2) and (4) every President shall hold office for a period of five years.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Constitution or any other Law no person who has twice been elected as President shall be eligible for re-election to that office.
My interpretation of what you have just written above is that we shouldn’t be having an election next year then- considering that every president shall hold office for 5 years.
@Kwindi kodjo, it very,very very clear that the tenure of the Presideny ends with the dissolution of parliament, not with standing the number of years one had been a President. It is the same for all members of parliament who win bye elections. You cannot dissolve parliament and not hold general elections. You cannot hold general elections without electing a president. There will be confusion in Zambia because of selfishness among politicians. The level of ignorance in Zambia is staggering!
@kwindi kodjo
Constitution is clear a new President is elected with dissolution of parliament every 5 yrs. So Lungu is automatically subjected to an election if he so wishes! What are u alfraid of?
Parliament tenure is 5yrs after which it is dissolved & new President & MPs elected? Else are you then saying current MPs including Kambwili sure continue to 2020 without recontesting their seats? ECL can’t stand 3times if by any chance he wins 2ice dubiously or honestly.
It means ECl can only rule max 6 & 1/2yrs. LPM & RB ruled 7&3 yrs respectively with tangible economic results! Sata ruled for 3yrs with imitated road results thanx to $1.75m Eurobond. Why shud ECL fail in 6&1/2 yrs? He borrow if lenders can lend in less than a year & do roads. It takes months to apply for loan & access it.
Mr Frank,It is a pity that when you die you will not leave a child to carry your name hence stop making irresponsible statements about the affairs of this nation because you don’t mind what happens when the economy of this nation is messed up .
Are you about that?!
Why is the nation acting like EL has already won the election for a second term anyway. He already has uphill to climb next year and people are already talking about a third term. Why are wasting time on this issue, have we forgotten about important issues that are affecting the country? We do not have electricity, prices of commodities are skyrocketing high and we are busy endorsing a failure to carry on in office. Bushe twalikwata amano sure?
Why are these people preoccupied with the 3rd term debate rather than showing us what they have achieved in the 1st and 2nd term? He, he, he; trying to go to college before you finish primary school.
You bandits , useless, arrogant, selfish bandits in government. It’s better to spearest Zambia and barlostland . We are tired with the some bullshirt for 50 years , barlostland has to come back next year .
Hi Jacob,
Could you please explain what you mean by , I quote “It is better to SPEAREST Zambia and BARLOSTLAND”? You could have a point their, but honestly, you have sort speared and lost me in BARLOSTLAND.
Mr Bwalya , please help me by listing ten success stories for EL. NOTE:
Whisky drinking , peeing and falling in public should not be included.
So the PF wants to put to an end to tripartite elections? What excites PF with elections that they want to continuously want the country to be in elections mood every time? They want in 2016 we have parliamentary and local government and in 2019 presidential elections. Again in 2021 parliamentary and local govt. They also what they president to continue after dissolution of parliament.
If the PF manages to twist the law and EL continues to 2019 Question to Frank Bwalya simple mind are;
– What happens if all or most of ministers losses their seats as MPs in 2016?
Before you change the constitution please change education system. Because the level of thinking is zero . Millions of Zambians were told that has know vision. People still voted for the some party , education system please change . You Ka bwalya lungu does not own Zambia .England,UNIP and MMD both come and went . So PF Who are you not to GO
I see Someone is looking for a job here!
Can just imagine what Frank and the PF would have said and done if RB had tried to pull this one off when he was President.
This so called father must be reminded that what is currently happening in Burundi will happen in Zambia if PF insists on ECL going for a Third Term. It is obvious that PF is testing the waters for a planned Third Term bid. It was first touted by Kapata and now it is Bwalya. Zambians must begin to smell a rat. All in all PF should be assured they will face an uphill battle against Zambians worse than the one that Chiluba and his MMD experienced.
This is Zambia for you for always debating about utterly pointless issues to waste time and run the clock instead of debating about transparency, accountability, good governance, constitutional reform, judicial reform and what the current Chief Justice is doing, the vacant defence ministry position and why Lungu still continues to cling on to it is he still getting a salary there?, alternative energy sources, investment in agriculture and IT, reform of RDA’s tender and procurement processes…its always silly irrelevant issues.
Zambians wake from your docility and stop being guided by these empty tins …its no wonder you loadsheding is back in force as you ONLY hope for the best and do not plan for the worst….everything is in your White Jesus’s hands.
Wake up from your stupor!!
The thing most of you people commenting on this article seem to be forgetting is that democracy opens up debate. The heading of this article and its content certainly do not add up. He clearly is seeking guidance from LAZ on this debate. This is what we asked for when we sought democracy. People tend to think democracy is a walk in the park. They forget that democracy actually only works for the majority and what they want.
No my friend, Frank is trying to interpret the law in a selfish way. We have been there before and we do not want to have what happened to MMD when FTJ and Sata were pushing for the third term. Unfortunately for FTJ and Sata, things never worked out because the people of Zambia stood firm and this ushered in Levy Mwanawasa. Do you remember( Maybe Frank was still in Bible school) what happened to Sata, he got frustrated and formed the PF because he thought FTJ would hand over the MMD presidency to him. Ba Frank, Ikalenifye………do not put this beautiful country on fire because you want to continue drinking Jameson for free!!!
That was my line of thought, but here we are; bloggers just using emotions to post comments. Read and understand people! Let the LAZ guide as it always does…eish!
Debate what you people? This is just a waste of time, the law is very clear on this matter, LAZ need not waste their time on this.
Not worth commenting on.
Frank if your were trained as a Jesuit, you would have been better at ensuring fairness to everyone not only yourself.
Guys, instead of throwing unprintables at Father Bwalya,There is a lacuna in our constitution with regards to issue at hand.Burundi has problems, because of the same issue where the current president has constitutional justifications but the opposition and genaral electorates do not want to him to stand as he is deemed to have served two terms of 5 yeard as opposed to his 8 years in office.This question should be viewed as an oppotunity to refne our constitution when is currently under reviewed other wasting time using unpallatable language.Let us bring in a close in the draft constitution that will help manage the presidential succession such as it is in south africa where an acting president will be appointed by the party secretariate untill the term ends.
It is difficulty to understand this one Frank Bwalya and his thinking. We have been there before with FTJ and his Third term story. Ba Bwalya do not destroy this young democracy with your selfish agenda. It is nice to be in the Pan Blocks house along independence Avenue but Laws and indeed the constitution must be respected. Stop shifting the goal post for you to score an easy goal. Is it possible to consult your brains before you open your mouth?
No matter what political gimmicks Father Bwalya plays, he has been rejected by the people. He is fond of seeking controversial issues and quickly taking sides to please a certain class. Its unfortunate for a clergy to lack principles and chance every means of livelihood that comes his way without considering possible repercussions. Sorry, your political and religious backgrounds are well documented.
this father Bwalya must be smoking dagga and drinking kachasu and Jameson. Zambians will now fight tooth and nail and will not allow PF push the 3rd term debate without a political fight. father Bwalya you better go back to the church because no silver and gold will come from PF for you from 2016 as PF is likely to go out of power
Ba Bwalya ifyamba too much.Do you even hold mass on sundays?
The foolish father, he do not have any single child and he is now a don’t care type even zambia is governed by vision less leader. Masturbation has disturbed him
I was with Former Priest Bwalya in an organisation Change Life Zambia. Iam dissapointed with his behaviour, anyway Iam seeing revolution coming within eight (8) months if we continue with EL. The best thing is to remove him by P.
EL tell your cadles to withdraw the case of defering elections in 2016 before it is too late. Gen. Miyanda dont be quite as if you are not the Zambian.
I thought Kambwili was telling lies when he said priests run mad when they leave priesthoods. Shame Frank. Ubwalwa bakwitile nanomba bulenunka pamuli, Rupia alicitile bwino pakukutwala muma cells. Neliline ufwile fye ukuya ku kanfinsa taumfwa.
It is shameful what some people can sink to in job-seeking! EL, please give Fr. Frank Bwalya a job so that he stops his irresponsible statements! We have so many potential presidents in Zambia, men and women who are capable of steering the nation ahead. Yet, time and again we have settled for ailing candidates who hardly spend an entire month at State House without sneaking out to seek medical treatment outside Zambia. Our people are dying from diseases that could be treated at home provided we reduced presidential medical expenditures and invested in medical equipment in our hospitals. Our people are wallowing in poverty not that they are lazy, but because we have a government that is busy responding to all the stupid comments in the media rather than make and implement sound policies.
He has dipped his fingers in the trough that is why he is yapping like a mad man.Kambwili was right when he said ,’Umupatili nga a amba ama politics balapena.’This man has the right to do what he wants but ni muselela kwakaba big style. The driving force behind his bu muselela kwakaba is tax payers money.
He made a party of ten people which he has shown a red card in preference for the careless PF who are running the nation on Kaloba. There is no method in his madness because we know he has amassed unexplained wealth.The auditor General is sleeping on the job.
this is why i have lost trust in politicians – they think they have the monopoly of wisdom
@ Frank Bwalya, some friendly advice:
Ask not for whom the whistle blows, it blows for thee!
BWALYA U ARE A FOOL A BIG FOOL KAPOLI IWE
I did not know that even human beings can become parasitic
This guy is like a mosquito mukutwi. Bloody irritating.
Homosexual Childless Father……………….BullSh**t
Sheer stupidity!
THIS CHAP IS DULL BEYOND ANYONE’S IMAGINATION AND STUPID TO THINK LUNGU CAN TAKE ZAMBIA ANYWHERE. I THINK HE IS BEEN HAUNTED BY THAT CHICKEN THAT HE SLAUGHTERED. PLEASE DO NOT EVEN CALL HIM FATHER ANYONE. I DO NOT THINK GOD APPROVES OF SUCH BEHAVIOUR AND STATEMENTS FOR A MAN OF GOD ADVOCATING FOR MORE SUFFERING FOR HIS OWN PEOPLE THROUGH THE WORST ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT. LUNGU AND HIS PROVEN FAILURES (PF) MUST LEAVE BY 2016.
Yaba! But ichi chi Father chipuba ayi!!!!
Isn’t completing Sata’s term is in itself completion of Ist term. It s the living person, not the dead, who is completing the term. So come 2016, EL will have completed 1st term as president.
Should he be re-elected in 2016, bear in mind, the word re-election, it means that EL will start his second term of office, bass!
Kapata and Bwalya’s hope for a third term is non starter, though a good point for discussion.
LAZ needs to work out clear guidelines… the interpretation of Law by Law makers like Kapata shows the ambiguity of our law on this issue.
BAWALYYA, The urine your Father used to drink in (Lenshina time) as a concoction to fly to heaven still flow in your blood. You may need another Kaunda this time to wake you up than to displace you from your homeland so that democratic civilization may catch up with you.
Point of correction. Father Bwalya’s father is actually Tonga. He uses his mother’s name because his father has been absent. So be careful how you insult.
These are statements that disturb the peace. Father! how many children does he have? You arrest Pilato for singing and entertaining the people! Arrest ka Bwalya for inciting violence
Wait a minute, this fool could be talking about an ERECTION!
Father Bwalya is right .Lungu is the man of the people !
It is dangerous to be surrounded by “Yes Men”. Those who deliberately make statements against the constitution in order to demonstrate loyalty. What a shame!
Ba UPND are bitter.With or without Lungu,PF is assured of victory based on their good developmental performance.
You cannot forecast votes. Votes are not sales or expenses.
@ 48
I agree with you on the bitter part, which has become normal in their sphere of operation! But hey wait a minute, to start a third term debate in this time and age, would be the worst path to self-destruction and a lousy self-decampaining track at that! We have been there before and this should be the last call to be coming from the PF!…nikuitaya uku manje aBwalya! You are alone on this one baba,sorry! Haven’t you watched enough of the Nkurunzinza piece currently shoiwng in the cinemas?
The big one is that Fr Bwalwa has no child and can afford to make inflammatory statements because he does not care what happens to the country thereafter.
WAOOOO!!!!!!!1,
THIS ONE WAS A NOISY DEBATE.
Nomba mwanaka …. kalaleni bwangu ilelo.
Let Fr. Bwalya write another one for your breakfast, lunch and umulalilo tomorrow
Thanx
Forgive Frank Bwalya, he may have said this under the influence of alcohol. He is just as bad as Jamason when it comes to drinking his Gin and Tonic. May be we should name him Tonic Bwalya.
Democracy doesn’t mean you insult people who can see what you can not see . You don’t shut up people who are able to contribute some reason, to the development in the political arena .
Just consider some points he has razed do you think this constitution is perfect in its present form , or does it have some gaps needing to be filled.
In most cases those who rush to shutting up thinkers , are those who are not intelligent enough to debate issues.
To all members of PF “intelligentsia” (oxymoron):
Instead of asking for third term after less than six months of deep inactivity, why not ask for “President for Life”?
I was told this Bwalya guy was mentally ill and as a general rule I do not hold people responsible for their illness. Although I still would like to see a sock stuffed in the guy’s mouth so he can shut up.