THE 50 percent plus 1 clause is a democratic and progressive piece of law and President Edgar Lungu should not be forced to take back the Constitution Amendment Bill so that it can be tabled back into Parliament, the United Party for National Development (UPND) has said.
The UPND has lashed at other opposition political parties for crying foul over the passing of the new Constitution Amendment Bill of 2015 which dictates that presidential candidates should be able to organize 100 supporters from each of the ten Provinces.
UPND presidential spokesperson for special duties Edward Mumbi said People’s Party President Mike Mulongoti and other opposition leaders should not mislead President Lungu to take back the Bill to Parliament so that it could be re-tabled.
Mr Mumbi said the UPND was ready to go to the general elections next year with the 50 percent plus 1 and the presidential running mate and was in support of the requirement that presidential candidates should be able to have 1000 supporters drawn from the ten Provinces.
Mr Mumbi said he had always taken Mr Mulongoti as an astute politician who could read the political mood of the country but was disappointed to realize that the People’s Party leader had exhibited political naivety by branding the Constitution Amendment Bill that has just been passed by Parliament as dictatorial and non-representative.
He said Mr Mulongoti even rubbished the Grand Coalition concerns over the constitution-making process and should therefore not condemn the members of Parliament for amending the Constitution of Zambia.
He explained that the UPND was not in support of the call by some opposition political parties to ask President Lungu to consider taking back the document to Parliament because that would not only be a waste of time but resources as well.
“The 50 percent plus 1 clause is a progressive and democratic piece of law and it is wrong for some opposition political parties to ask President Lungu to consider taking back the document to Parliament to be re-tabled. Our concern as the UPND is the manner the amendment was done but we have no problem with the 50 percent plus 1 clause. Mr Mulongoti and other leaders of the opposition political parties should not cry foul because they had a chance to read the document before it went to Parliament. The Constitution has been amended for Zambians and an impression should not be created that it is the PF that is writing the Constitution for a particular group of people or political parties,” Mr Mumbi said.
Mr Mumbi said the referendum would have been the best process of enacting the Constitution but there was no need for political leaders to continue opposing the phased enactment of the new Constitution because the Bill had already been passed.
He advised that all political parties that supported the phased process of enacting the Constitution when other major stakeholders strongly objected should first apologise to Zambians before asking President Lungu to take the document back to Parliament.
This is stupidity on the party of UPND. How can one ferrie cadres from other parts of the province for verification. In fact with 50% + 1 to win, UPND need support of small parties. So atagonising them now is stupid. Better to keep quiet at times.
Upnd have no clue on what it takes to win an election.
Ulichikopo iwe who said the parties need to ferries people from all these provinces yto come to lsk they need to appear before the magistrates in their respective provinces.
Ulichikopo iwe who said the parties need to ferrie people from all these provinces to come to lsk they need to appear before the magistrates in their respective provinces.
Under 5 politics
50+1? I fear for UPND. What is the population of southern province?
Contradictions and confusion, panic in UPND. Now that they have realised that the majority voters are with PF, they want to pretend as though they supported the constitution making process.
Mr Mumbi may be innocent but must realise the UPND MPs were walking out of Parliament during the serious house debates. He should also not forget that the progress clauses we’re passed by PF and MMD MPS and NOT selfish UPND.
Anyway what do you expect from the leadership of Under 5 and kabondo?
Now its good but upnd mps voted against the same bill in parley..! Upnd…wat do u stand for..? Wapya munzi…!
Is that UPMD speaking, or your own views Mr Mumbi? Or putting up a brave face? For we know that right now UPMD’s pants are not okay over these recent events. For well known reasons, the general membership is worried who will be running mate.
Anyway, Mr Mumbi, do not rubbish the so called small parties, they make all the difference in a 50%+1 system of elections. Don’t forget that your boss recently called for an alliance with other opposition parties to kick out the PF, but no one has responded. I think they would rather have an alliance with PF, as UPMD is so scary to most small opposition parties. So it seems the extra one vote will be for PF ..kikikikikiki
If GBM is serious about what he is doing, he must consciously challenge this tribal picture. He must distance his resignation from internal Bemba-proper ruling dynamics and show us that he has a passion for the whole country. The idea that it is “family that makes him leave cabinet” only goes to play into what I believe is his weakness as a political leader: the elevation of tribe and family above national interest.
Wynter Kabimba might not have been completely off the mark when he suspected that GBM could be an alleged tribalist. There is 2009 tribe issue reinforced clearly by 2013. I still remain unconvinced that GBM means well in this resignation. To convince me otherwise, he should retract his remarks against the Namwangas and invite them to a table of common destiny in their…
when is HE ECL signing the bill bane can someone tell me?
upnd is ok in democracy majority takes the day, they might have been against but because majority were for the idea. in africa parliament is marred with corruption. viva HH
Comment:UPND must be serious on issues mwandi.
@pochogo. iwe mambala this article has got nothing to do with GBM. Its like GBM unsettles your ass! Why not debate issues? nangu bukopo sure, awe mwe!!
”UPND presidential spokesperson for special duties Edward Mumbi” What a title!!! Why not just say Managenet Committe member?? This ka elisit club, awe mwandi mwe