The objectives of the Bill are to provide for registration and regulation of political parties and the establishment of a political parties fund, among others.
United Party for National Development (UPND) secretary-general Stephen Katuka has another way of looking at the proposed bill: “First fund us as political parties, then you can regulate us.”
Mr Katuka said it is very costly to run a political party, hence the need for Government to fund them.
“We have been in the opposition the last 20 years. It has not been easy for us because we have had to use our own resources to keep going,” Mr Katuka said.
Mr Katuka said it is a constitutional provision for Government to financially support political parties with representation in Parliament.
“I am yet to thoroughly look at this Political Parties Bill but I am aware that it also proposes that we should be funded but up to now, they have not done so.
“Nobody funds us and it is expensive to run a political party. No wonder we are the only party that has survived all these years,” he said.
And Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) national secretary and spokesperson Antonio Mwanza said the Bill will make it mandatory for political parties to adhere to its provisions.
“This is a constitutional requirement and so there is nothing like whether it is welcome or not. We need that Act to operationalise that clause in the constitution,” Mr Mwanza said in an interview.
Mr Mwanza said while some provisions are progressive, FDD does not agree with other clauses like the composition of a board of the political parties.
“Why should it comprise church mother bodies and civil society? Do political parties sit on the boards of church mother bodies? And why should this board be reporting to the President, who is also a politician?” Mr Mwanza questioned.
The man is not even worried about his president.
He talks a lot of nonsense
Thanks
Bb2014,2016
My prayer is this bill flops.
He speaks a lot of nonsense just like you.
Enchito?
Katuka which came first? The egg or the chicken. The chicken or the egg?
@Mushota:You are 100% right!!
This man main focus is on money.so he agrees that if Govnt funds them then it will be fine for them to dance to Govnt tune(rules)?money is evil.Katuka is very unconcerned about kaili #1 HH’s life in mukobeko-kikikikikiki!!!so which difference can upnd leaders offer if given power?nothing.all these are money vulntures!!
Good to note that upnd has now started respecting PF Govnt!!
To fund opposition which rises against the ruling Gvt?!! You cannot feed a finger that bites you. Katuka likes cash and has no service to Nation. All monies must go to development projects and not to opposers. Selako tubombe pakutila 2021 ikasange ifintu fisuma.
Katuka and mwanza are right ,katuka ‘s point is that the gvt should fund the political parties first if they want to introduce that bill of which the gvt can’t manage and wasteful of resources at the same time .more political parties will be formed to access that fund I will also form one. This will mean that the party in power will be getting the money to fund their party and deny those in opposition like we have seen over cdf
Mushota you comment on very article I have seen on LT. Do you have a life? Just wondering
Just how did Katuka become SG of UPND? Most of the time he seems to have no clue of what this nation needs and appears to be only interested in what will benefit his political party!
Let Katuka alone and in the history zambia politics ,Upnd’s existence no party beats it ,hence wide experience ,therefore he knows what he is talking about.