Friday, March 29, 2024

Nevers Mumba welcomes the adoption of 50% plus 1 clause

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Nevers Mumba during a meeting in Kalulushi
Nevers Mumba during a meeting in Kalulushi

The opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has predicted a re-run in the 2016 presidential election following the passing of the 50 percent plus one vote clause by parliament.

Addressing a media briefing in Lusaka this morning, MMD President Dr. Nevers Mumba notes that the outcome in Parliament this morning is due to sustained pressure on the PF to at least give the Zambian people clauses which would assist in ensuring that the next election is conducted in an atmosphere of expanded liberties.

Dr. Mumba says his party supported the parliamentary route using common sense, stating that the nation would not have attained the victory of the 50 percent plus one vote clause and presidential running mate clause had his party not supported the process.

Dr. Mumba says he is delighted that as a party they remained focused and consistent and provided direction and sense of clear purpose in making history to enact clauses that Zambians have looked forward to over a very long period of time.

He cited some of the clauses he says were close to the hearts of the MMD as 50 % plus one, presidential running mate, dual citizenship, strengthening of the Auditor General’s office to effect prosecutions of erring civil servants, mandatory national debt contraction through parliament and the prevention of parliamentary defections and crossing the floor in an effort to bring order to the house.

The Members of Parliament had to debate the constitution bill the whole night into today following a motion moved by Vice President for the house to adjourn sine die upon completion of all business on the order paper.

Members of Parliament voted 111 to 37 for the constitution amendment bill to be read the third time around 08:15 hours this morning.

They also voted in favour of having the Constitution of Zambia Bill read for a third time.

The house had earlier voted to remove the article on provincial assemblies, marinating clauses such as the 50% plus one vote threshold for a winning presidential candidate, the running mate and dual citizenship among others.
And Parliament has passed the K53.14 billion 2016 national budget.

The house has since adjourned sine die after marathon proceedings which started yesterday at 14:30 hours until this morning at about 09:43 hours.

14 COMMENTS

  1. Like you Nevers, I am happy. Its a start. We can perfect it at a later stage but for next year’s elections, this will do just nicely.

  2. I agree with you Man of God. I would have been happier with the Provincial Assembly Clause & Cabinet from outside Parliament but God am I pleased that we now have a Constitution that gives real power to the people rather than a small group of politicians! 97% of the Constitution Bill with all the progressive provisions is certainly better than nothing at all. Well done MPs; well done GRZ; well done Mr President. You showed unwavering commitment to give Zambia a transformative constitution without fearing to dilute your own powers. That is progressive & rare quality. This is history in the making. Well done. God Bless Zambia.

  3. HH wanted this exercise to fail because he is in a fix, he is troubled on who to chose as a running mate between GBM and C. Band. Either way he will rock the boat and it might split UPND at the 11th hour

  4. PF you have been weighed and have been found wanting. PF come 2016 kusela tubombeko ifyamano ifwe ba UPND with the visionary leadership of HH

  5. Strengthening the auditor general’s office is pointless if the Police and Judiciary are both compromised. Indepence of the Inspector of General of police is key to stopping selective arrests and prosecutions. The president should not be able to hire and fire the IG at will. Similarly, financial independence of the judiciary and security of tenure for judges are important. The situation where you have an acting Chief Justice all the time is unacceptable. Above all this is what Zambia needs to show that we are serious about fighting corruption. I would like to see a situation where the police can detain a minister, without succumbing to political pressure, if he or she commits a crime.

  6. There is too much focus on elections in Zambia. We need to bring order to parliament. MPs need to be able to serve the full five year term they have been elected for. Thugs like Davis Chama should have no right to expel MPs who have been elected by the people. If an MP is expelled by his or her party, they should still remain MP. However, they should be barred from joining another party for the remainder of the term and they should not be allowed to serve in government. Instead they should be independent. We have seen how MPs in the UK openly oppose their party if they do not agree with the bill before them. Their party cannot expel them from parliament. So both sides listen to each other to reach a compomise. That is how it should be.

  7. It have never posted any comment on this, but I do today just to say how courageous ECL is, to let this happen. Any other incumbent president would do everything in their power to stop this clause. So, my heart off to ECL.

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