Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Dr Chileshe Mulenga has clarified that prisoners in Zambia cannot be allowed to vote.
Dr Mulenga has since explained that the statement issued by Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila was misleading.
Dr. Mulenga said prisoners cannot vote as it is illegal to allow them to do so.
He has further admitted that Mr Mwila did not seek legal advice on the matter and that he misdirected himself in stating a position on a matter of law without consultation with other relevant organs of Government.
Dr Mulenga said Government will give a comprehensive statement on the matter stating that the action being advocated for is illegal.
He said laws are made by pronouncement or declaration but that laws are enacted by Parliament which is currently dissolved.
“The people who advised the Minister did not advise him properly,” he said.
thank you for having a spine and condemning your boss–who by the way is occupying his office illegally. These individuals in PF are really clueless and a closer look at their credentials is very revealing. Partisanship aside guys, this is serious business–running a country is serious business and should not be left to the weak minded otherwise we will wallow in mediocrity for indefinitely.
Well, as good as it is that you have clarified the issue, NOW ASK THE President to discipline this KOSWE STILL masquerading as a Minister!!
Vote wisely 11/8/2016!! Vote Zambia FORWARD!! Vote UPND!!
#chagwamustfall!! PamaFikuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
Dr Mulenga, you are a good and brave worker who will stand to correct the boss. Often times in this situation people keep quiet and say ‘FILE ISOVA’.
Let every one learn from this that it is their duty too to ensure their ignorant bosses do what is right.
I thought these were the people ministers needed to seek advise from before going on air. There you go bwana minister get back to us and tell us these technocrats are lying and that you still stand your ground. Sometimes its wise to keep quiet.
My brother, even a PFool acts wisely when he keeps quiet! Kudos to this distinguished civil servant for speaking up; we need more like him!
Dr Mulenga should explain why an illegal Minister would seek legal advice from a Govt Legal Dept ? The illegal Minister is still in the post after Parliament was dissolved. The govt legal dept advised that it was illegal for President Lungu to keep his Ministers in their posts. How would an illegal Minister seek legal advice from the same. The back stops with Lungu on this one becoz he defied legal advice on the very matter. Lungu should be held accountable for disrespecting the law and our Constitution.
Political rhetoric is confusing. In the heat of the moment, politicians make promises and express preferences. The rights of a prisoner and other such minorities are also rights. There is nothing wrong with wishing that prisoners could also cast their ballots some day in the future. The question is: if the prisoners were allowed to vote, then what would be the implications for democracy? What fraction of the electorate does the prison popilation represent? My suggestion is that as the rights of prisoners keep evolving, let us debate the issue of denying prisoners voting rights.
This guy really has got balls. It is not easy to put such a straight and hard statement across the face of a minister like this.
Dr Mulenga also in fact made it clear that he was NOT the one that advised the minister by saying “The people who advised the Minister did not advise him properly.” So who are those people – it is Kaizer Zulu and Edgar Lungu of course! Are we NOT entiled to an apology from the Govt or Mwila in this case?
For a Minister, Grade12 or Form5 is NOT enough, they need a Degree otherwise these Ugly Old men like Mwila will keep making Laws while shi.ting in the toilet and expect everyone to obey!
One wonders why Mwila was appointed minister when qualified people like this Chileshe was overlooked. But then Mwila is one of the use-le-ss ministers
But I heard Some F.ool on ZNBC praising the Minister and government for that move.
You mean former Minister Mwila, all these chaps are holding these positions unconstitutionally, that’s what LAZ says. I am yet to hear of a country in the world where prisoners are allowed to vote, these PF chaps are really something with their fear of losing the next elections. Anyway, whether they like it or not kuyabebele!
As President Lungu said….Zambian don’t like to read, Mwila has embarrassed himself mwe….son to ma NGO’s even started praising the ‘announcement’ bravo bravo mungulu mungulu… READ ahh
Bravo Doc..please ensure the rule of law is upheld during this transitional period.If left unabated, these PF goons will destroy this country.Even in the free world (USA), prisoners are disenfranchised and who are we here in Zambia with a fledgling democracy fraught with inconsistencies to even suggest universal suffrage?
The ministers statement confirms the allegation that prisoners were sneaked out of prison and registered as voters. there is no way he can make such statement if he knew that they are not registered voters. am sure he is now exculpating himself before his master for preempting part of the rigging plan coz any which way, these prisoners’ voters cards will somehow still be used for voting even if the owners are locked up in prison. Opposition shouldn’t just let this one go but look at this matter with keen eyes- there more than just what meets the eye for that statement.
Imwe ba Mr Mwila,
You did not have the guts to say loudly that you issued a misleading statement. This is even worse, that your junior goes in front of the press while you are hiding. Game over for you Sir, you cant be a minister any more
Sonta PF mediocrity!!!! This is the kind of minister we have. That is why they can even continue being in office illegally.
Imwe,Arrest the culprit of a minister.Chileshe man up and arrest this criminal known as Mwila.He is shielding you from doing your job correctly.This is what happens when you have illegal ministers still holding onto their positions-total confusion.Arrest the barger -charge him with Treason!