Three parties participating in this year’s elections have promised to strengthen the oversight mandate of Parliament as a way of providing checks and balances to the Executive.
Speaking during the Open Forum Debate under the theme Good Governance, Checks and Balances and Access to Information, opposition parties UNIP, UPND and the FDD all agreed that Parliament needs do more than just be a rub stamp for the ruling party.
FDD Spokesperson Antonio Mwanza said the need to strengthen Parliament is as result of its committees’ recommendations gathering dust once they are made among other challenges being faced by the legislative arm of government.
He said reforms at Parliament will in turn strengthen other institutions such as the ACC and the Police.
He said the Auditor General’s office has become a ceremony office that tends in its findings but hardly anyone is prosecuted for the crimes they commit against Zambians through misappropriation of public funds.
Mr Mwanza said in its current form Parliament can only sit as committees and debate in house but the Executive makes all the decisions.
He said the politicisation of institutions in the country has made most institutions under perform as they depend on politicians tell them what to do.
And Choolwe Bayani of the UPND said his party will seek to empower local communities by decentralizing the governance structures of country.
He said with decentralisation locals will feel part of the development process taking place in their communities.
He also said his party will ensure that the civil service is depoliticized to ensure that professionals do their job with any interference from appointees who often time just frustrate professional civil servants.
He said there is need for institutions such the Auditor General’s office, the ACC and the Police to have “teeth” to ensure that they do their job without any directives and interference.
And UNIP Vice President and presidential running mate said there need to reintroduce civil service exams to ensure people are employed on merit.
He said a number of people have been employed in positions they hardly understand because of their connections with authorities.
He said his government will prioritise training of the civil servants to ensure effectiveness.
He also said his party would trim down the civil service as it was too bloated and was consuming alot of money, monies he said should be channelled to developmental programs.
But FDD’s Antonio Mwanza begged to differ on the issue government over employing saying it is the government which is bloated and not the civil service.
He said key sectors such as Education, Health and Agriculture were seriously understaffed and that his government will ensure that it trims down on political appointees who spend time yawning in their offices because there is nothing to do.
He added that his Party once elected will ensure that it cuts down on the luxuries splashed on the Ministers at the expense of Zambians.
On corruption the three parties agreed that corruption can only successfully be fought by investing and strengthening institutions created to tackle the scourge.
They agreed that corruption would only end if the root causes are addressed.
Conspicuously missing for the debate was representation from the ruling PF who had promised to come but chickened out at the last minute.
i like the last sentence.the executive have too much powers,they control every thing his the other arms of govt are just rubber stamps.
In Africa, when you are outside the boat, the vessel seams to be small, but when you are in side the boat, the vessel becomes bigger and you start overloading until the economy collapses. It takes wise men to see correct dimension when in opposition and when in Government.
PF Members of Parliament listenS! Journalism! Also, is this a flashback photo? Because some guys here are not PF!!
“Three parties participating in this year’s elections have promised to strengthen the oversight mandate of Parliament as a way of providing checks and balances to the Executive.”
OKAY, IT’S NICE TO KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY LOST THE ELECTIONS AND ALREADY PLANNING TO ENHANCE YOUR PARLIAMENTARY PARTICIPATION ON CHECKS AND BALANCES. IFINTU NI LUNG/WINA. ABASHALA FISOSO.
Zambia needs a parliament which has enough powers to oversee ALL government operations.The current system makes the President too powerful,he dictates over everything.
The PF doctored the amended constitution so that checks and balances are not there.
There’s a need (for parliament) to amend the constitution again and seal ALL loopholes.
Interesting last paragraph: Conspicuously missing for the debate was representation from the ruling PF who had promised to come but chickened out at the last minute. We need more election debates/discussions about real-issues rather than seeing violent clashes about non-issues such as “no-go area!” for a political party.
In fact, the foundation of democracy is premised on active and rigorous debate/engagement which replaces the need to settle differences in opinions in physical confrontations.
We hope ZNBC can for once air live debates between the various candidates; that would be a better format of ‘political fighting’ than trying to stone a chopper to the ground and started wild fires!