during the official opening of the National Assembly
Network Executive Director Gerald Chiluba said the PF have the power to do anything with the constitution as they have the numbers hence the need for them not to use the arrogance of numbers to undo clauses which the country enacted in the amended Constitution.
Mr Chiluba said rumors going around on social platforms propagated by the PF media team that they intend to reverse articles in the amended constitution are not welcome.
“As Zambia Volunteers Network we want call on the PF ahead of the forthcoming 12th session of Parliament to be officially opened this Friday to use their number in Parliament to enact progressive laws. We want the current crop of law makers to take keen interest in enacting progressive laws not for the benefit of politicians alone but for the benefit of the wider majority Zambians.
“We are talking directly to the PF because they have the numbers in Parliament to do absolutely anything to this constitution. They must not use the arrogance of numbers to undo clauses they recently enacted. You see there is a rumor going around on social platforms, that the PF media team is propagating that they intend to reverse articles in the constitution that were recently amended in the run up to elections and these include the 50% plus 1 clause and the articles dealing with the removal of Deputy Ministers from government Ministries.
“We see this as a watery fire rumor that worries our institution to say the least. We are defiant to that notion and we implore every well meaning Zambian especially civil societies involved in law reforms to repudiate all those in the scheme to stop what they are doing. Election time is over and we must progress as a nation, we cannot keep running in this viscous circle in perpetuity at the expense of development in this country. Zambia belongs to every Zambian not only for politicians to use Parliament to exploit others to make their lives better,” he said.
He explained that Zambians are now focusing on the next unnecessary group of political appointees who are an unnecessary expense to the over burdened tax payers.
“Deputy Ministers are now a things of the past, Zambians have gotten over them and are now focusing on the next unnecessary group of office bearers that are an unnecessary expense on the over burdened and crippled tax payers such District Commissioners. They must be conscious with the interest of the Zambians and not act with impunity,” he said.
He also called on the opposition to stop being spectators as they will be held accountable.
“This warning also goes to the opposition members that they must not go ball watching in Parliament as though they are spectators at a Zesco match, Zambians will hold them accountable as well. Am sure you recall, the opposition just days ago didn’t submit any names for the candidature of Speakers in Parliament because they thought it will be a formality but sometimes its the formalities that have overturned great injustices in history. It is folly in a democracy for people to go unopposed at such a great institution such as parliament,” he said.
If need be they should revisit and amend certain clauses in our constitution especially the President elect handing power to the speaker.In my own opinion it should be removed.The enemies of the state wanted to use that to bring chaos on our great nation knowing that speaker has no immunity with limited powers
@1 Yes there is a need,
I cannot say it better you have nailed it with precision and wisdom. I’m one of those about to sponsor some call for for amendments to the current dangerous constitution. It almost threw the country in turmoil had patriotism and national interest condoned madness to reign and have its way. It has too many reckless clauses shoved in by theorists with utopian world idealism. In embracing reforms, national interest ought to take precedence with a Great sense of realism.
Senile Citizen, you PF created the animal constitution which you now call dangerous. PF are going to waste another 5 years. Reversing, reversing for the next 5 years.
The consitution needs to be looked at some more. As it stands it allowed lungu to steal unabated.
No it didn’t the constitution is very fine and well written. The problem is we have someone in LUNGU who decides not to follow the law and the constitution in anyway. You may change it he will still not follow the precepts.
Those proposed amendments have no retroactive effect. The illegal and illegitimate Lungu govt cannot resolve the Petetion crisis thru constitutional amendments. The remedy is to allow Concourt to dispose off the Petetion properly,fairly and in good time. Time will tell.
Lungu lost the election outright to HH and failed to meet the 50% + 1 vote threshold. He stole the elections and avoided the Run Off. In fact Lungu and ECZ misrigged the election and only crossed the threshold by 13532 votes. If u remove 8000 ghost votes in Lundazi, 4000 votes in Chingola,2000 votes in Kanyama its clear Lungu did not win the election or even reached the 50% + 1 vote. For this reason we know Lungu would like to amend this clause to make it easier to steal elections and avoid the troubled Petetion process. Lungu refused to handover power to the Speaker of Parliament during the Petetion transitional period. Lungu would like the stealing of elections made easier by removing these clauses. This will not resolve the Petetion crisis.
Where?in dundumwezi yes he lost but not in 7 provinces.
What is petetion? Of course we need to amend some clauses. Limit number of ministers. Remove the clause on handing over power to the speaker. Clarify the 14 days without extention. Clarify the issue of ministers after dissolution of parliament.
Let the pf please scrap off the 50 plus 1 close because its not good for our young democracy. It just brought more confusion in our country. Its better we go back to the past close.
We need to simple majority is 50+1% is a pain, almost set Zambia ablaze. With kalusa demanding the President to surrender power to the speaker….
Don’t target the PF law makers alone to come up with progressive laws but the opposition should also support where it is necessary like the referendum subject. It is not true that it was exercised at the wrong time but wrongly publicized by dictators who do not wish to share what ever is sweet.