Friday, April 19, 2024

38 UPND MPs ask to be guided whether they must stay away or attend National Dialogue Forum

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The official Opening of the National Dialogue by President Lungu
The official Opening of the National Dialogue by President Lungu

38 UPND Members of Parliament have written to the National Dialogue Forum asking to be guided whether they must stay away or it is mandatory for them to attend.

Forum spokesperson Isaac Mwanza said the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament has also written excusing himself from attending because he has not been sworn in.

Mr. Mwanza said the response will be given to them during the course of this week.

He said in terms of attendance, the Committee is very impressed of a wider representation from all stakeholders as stated in the Act.

Mr. Mwanza said so far, 126 Members of Parliament out of the 167, 16 of whom are from the United Party for National Development are in attendance at the Forum.

He said the Forum has also drawn attendance from the other political parties with representation in Parliament and all the independent MPs are in attendance.

Mr. Mwanza said among the members, 8 representatives are from the chuchu Church, two of them from the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia and several Civil Society Organisations except a few that decided not to attend.

He said the forum on Friday begun looking at the base document, that is the Siavonga Resolutions, that were availed to them and the delegates were segmmented into four groups. The groups have since made their recomendations to the main fora which is the only forum authorised to adopt the resolutions.

Mr. Mwanza said the adopted recommendations from the Siavonga Resolutions will feed into the Constitution Amendment, Political Party, Electoral Process, and Public Order Bills.

“We must make it clear that up till this stage no resolution has been adopted by the main Forum for feeding into the main Bills. We expect that the adopted resolutions from the Siavonga resoluttion top be made at the end of the day today”, he added.

Mr. Mwanza said beginning tomorrow, they expect the member to begin considering 80 amendments to the Constitution which have been proposed to the Zambian Constitution which include the merger of the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court, provide for continuation of Ministerss after Parliament has been disolved, the hearing of presidential petitions to be heard within 30 days, recognition and withdrawal of recognition of Chiefs, among others.

He said these are proposals contained in the Bill and came from the submissions that were made during the time the public were asked to make submissions on refinement of the Constitution. They have not been adopted, amended or rejected as yet by the Forum at this stage.

45 COMMENTS

  1. Why would an ambitious MP want to be absent from such a fundamental discourse? It’s the Constitution, take part in shaping changes.

    BAN UPND!

    • The NDF bill was tabled, debated and passed by parliament where these same Hakainde’s slaves sit. Now they want to be guided? So these morons just oppose even things they don’t understand? Ignore them

    • Consult your conscious, add a 3 quarters of your patriotism to it while at that.
      Seek audience with your conscience and decide sons of men.
      Definition of conscience:
      The faculty, power, or inward principle which decides as to the character of one’s own actions, purposes, and affections, warning against and condemning that which is wrong, and approving and prompting to that which is right; the moral faculty passing judgment on one’s self; the moral sense.
      [1913 Webster]
      While Conscious means:
      Possessing the faculty of knowing one’s own thoughts or mental operations.
      [1913 Webster].
      My comment comes your way in the work of my understanding concerning your behavior in the house of representatives, Parley.
      It that not an important National undertaking?

    • Barely 2 years, not 20 years and
      80 points already wrong in new constitution? Who the f?ck approved that your Ba Edgar sign it in stadium?
      Why sign wrong thing?
      Add #81: prosecute who approved a wrong constitution.
      #82: prosecute who formed and appointed wrong judges for now unwanted Constitution Court.

    • Seriously, the process is very important to the UPND. Their shunning of the event just shows how irrelevant and useless they have become.
      SHAME!

    • Wait a minute!

      These MP’s surely cannot be serious asking such a question.

      They are there to represent the voice of the people who gave them jobs as MP’s. And that’s the constituents. Importantly to discuss national matters.

      # Ladies and Gentlemen we are a long way to go, if this is the calibre of parliamentarians we have who have to be told what to do.

    • National dialogue is all about giving Lungu 7 year looong term of office (like in Uganda), blocking HH from standing in 2021 & further tightening public order act to prevent masses from protesting.
      After 2021, constitution will be “fine-tuned” again & 2-term limit will be removed & opposition parties squeezed like in Uganda so that Lungu becomes defacto dictator like Museveni.
      What has Lungu done for the country besides bankrupting it, collapsing the economy & causing hunger???
      Guys lets open our eyes. We only have 1 country. We can’t lose the country bcoz some f00ls “love” Lungu. Don’t throw the water out the basin together with the baby. Zambia is greater than Lungu.

    • Is the reporting thorough? Why would they be asking for guidance on attending the NDF is it a question of processing attendance or selection mode? This NDF lacks genuineness as a sitting government can not preside honestly over changes to the constitution without a self preservation agenda! The staying-on for ministers is the interest arising from the PF blunder that ECL lost to the ConCourt, PF has interest in seeing the Lungu presidency extended and much more through hoodwinking the citizenry using NDF attendance! Nothing really good about the NDF but PF bulldozing through changes favoring them in the immediate short term! How will the proposals be adopted? Voting by attendees I guess and who has the numbers?

    • Ba Zambia bawina!!! That’s the more reason these UPND MPs should be part of this very important experience. This is blue sky stuff!!!

      It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that will shape our republican constitution whose members will be codified as having offered the first ever constitutional amendments.

      Think of those 80 contentious issues as the Zambian version of the US Federalist Papers that produced a constitution so strong with only 27 amendments so far but relevant today as it was almost two centuries and half ago when it was first inscribed.

      When I say Zambians are smart, this is what I mean. They have the clairvoyance and the ability to build their own destiny after their own likeness, so help them God!!!

      Only this breed of Africans is capable of doing what only…

    • Continued…

      Only this breed of Africans is capable of doing what only Zambians do, time and time again. These smart people of the Zambian Enterprise are in a class by themselves.

      They have outsmarted Hakainde yet again because as far as he was concerned and according to him the National Dialogue was supposed to expose how a supposed election was stolen from him.

      However, it turns out that it is going to be a process beyond subjectivity with an eye beyond individuality with a rendezvous with the future only objectivity can suffice proving yet again that Zambia Is Greater Than Any Single One Of Us ~ B R Mumba, Sr.

      Now compare that thought process to what we are seeing across the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea. This breed of Africans are working on a robust exercise…

    • Continued…

      This breed of Africans are working on a robust exercise being presided over by ECL as opposed to a circus led by Theresa May over Brexit in the NOT SO Great Britain.

      But again cretins like Gay Gay, Spooked, CK and HH can’t see the wisdom of their own exercise and how that it is superior in nature compared to the circus that Brexit is, for instance.

      These dimwit cretins would rather have the Commowealth Secretariat presiding over this exercise and none of the UPND MPs would have written seeking guidance, what an inferiority complex!!!

      All MPs should attend I must add and help draft the necessary amendments for if not posterity will judge them harshly. That should be a no brained, at all. Let’s do this thing, let’s do life together and let’s build a nation to…

    • Continued…

      Let’s do this thing, let’s do life together and let’s build a nation to ourselves second to none.

      One Zambia, One Nation ~ Zambia the beautiful … that’s the genius of the Zambian Enterprise!!!

      Epo mpelele,

      BRM

      Original Content; No Copyrights Reserved.

    • I can assure you it will not be about number soon. The country is bankrupt. 1.68billion dollars bonds released. failed to even sale 20% according to BOZ. Like I said. Waiting for implosion. A hungry man is not your friend. Keep cheating your selves. You will soon have an 80 year old woman with a stone in the hand walking towards a policeman with an AK. you’ve thought its a game now watch. am waiting to roast my popcorn.

      Am no dooms day but miss management is miss management. and all you BR mumba and olivia have had no sense of the right thing.

      Just wait

    • @Cat Power … by God we will never let the genius of the Zambian Enterprise implored, even due to your kleptomaniac debt supposed crisis.

      And Kikikikiki … God forbid that a murderously dangerous Kalashnikov (AK47) would find itself in the hands of an 80 year old woman.

      But jokes aside; Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal were in a much worse situation than we are when the EU Central Bank bailed them out.

      We are sitting pretty compared to how much these examples were in terms of GDP Vs National Debt and that’s why I keep telling Margaret to stay away from IMF bailouts.

      The IMF have never done anything good for us … they are nothing but a vulture flying over waiting for its prey to die before it devours.

      That’s the IMF for you, nothing good for us and if anything, they…

    • Continued…

      That’s the IMF for you, nothing good for us and if anything, they are just bad press for the nation because any time they are part of our news cycle our ZMK depreciates and our bond rates go up.

      They are nothing but a propaganda machine to weaken our currency and enrich our bond holders … that’s why we need to refinance these Eurobonds using a much friendlier option so that we cut that part of bad press out of our news cycle.

      Epo mpelele,

      BRM

    • How on God’s earth in 10 days can you come up with a people’s driven constitution.
      What’s the rush if I may ask? ???

    • Despite being a democratic environment you have have learnt anything …. do you think theres been a law process forcing attendance like this one, ask yourself why? Zambian education is useless if continues to produce people like you.

  2. “…..80 amendments to the Constitution which have been proposed to the Zambian Constitution which include the merger of the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court, provide for continuation of Ministerss after Parliament has been disolved, the hearing of presidential petitions to be heard within 30 days, recognition and withdrawal of recognition of Chiefs, among others…..”.

    These are important proposals, looks progressive to me. As I say always, forget the trib.als, they are just a waste of time.

    • @upnd cadre … you wrote and I quote, ” … These are important proposals, looks progressive to me. As I say always, forget the trib.als, they are just a waste of time.” End of quote.

      These MPs are citizens first and then secondly they are people’s representatives. Even if we withdrew their MPship, at the very least as citizens they are in a democracy.

      It is therefore very important that everyone understands, especially them that citizenship in a democracy is not a spectator sport. How much more being citizens and then on top of that being MPs.

      They have a heavy responsibility on their shoulders and they should stand up firstly for themselves and secondly for the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise they represent.

      Epo mpelele,

      BRM

  3. 38 MPs asking to be guided? Just a ruse to avoid losing their seats in parliament, you don’t know the trib.als? Just ignore them and tell them afterwards that at law ignorance is no defence.
    Don’t they have Grade 12 education level? Or perhaps they went to trib.al schools?

  4. That’s the correct way of doing people’s business as MPs. If you are not clear about something/a law, seek clarification. And not just saying outright that “we/UPND members are NOT going to attend the Forum settings” without even considering what the law says. If the law governing the Forum says it is MANDATORY for all MPs to attend, then they should, full stop! They can then make their views (if any) cristal clear at the Forum….not through ZWD or the like.

    Enough of the childish behavior of walking away or out every time they want to throw a tantrum. Taxpayers are paying you to do your jobs….and that’s MAKE LAWS (Legislate.) And no Law can be as great and consequential as a CONSTRUCTION to any country…..so MPs, do your JOB. No more absconding to go down some Whiskey and…

    • Woooow, auto correct can be a pain in the ‘you know what…’ CONSTRUCTION?????

      Well, it is supposed to be CONSTITUTION!

  5. This sounds funny to have come from the self proclaimed intellectuals. What has changed now? This can best be described as an exhibition of ignorance because the ND Bill is in public domain. Let’s see who’s going to hell.

  6. Trouble with UPND, is they give a …..if it allows them to annoy everyone. Thus is just attention seeking par excellence. They cannot be serious!

  7. 8 representatives are from the chuchu PARTY THIS PARTY IS THEIR ONLY TO REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF CHINESE PEOPLE, THE CHUCHU PARTY PRESIDENT CHONGCHONG IS VERY HAPPY THAT HIS PARTY MEMBERS ARE IN HIGH SPIRITS PARTICIPATING IN THE NDP, THE SECRETARY GENERAL CHONGCHING HA S PROMISED US$200,000 TO EACH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FROM PF IF CHINA IS AWARDED THE CONTRACT FOR LUSAKA NDOLA ROAD

  8. THE UPND NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME. DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF TOMORROW THEY U-TURN AND CLAIM THAT “WE NEVER SAID THAT”. THEY ARE VERY PROUD.

  9. I thought Upnd would all attend the NDF so that they push for the 30 days presidential petition because come 2021 kainde will petition the presidential election. Upnd MPs should ask kainde or Zambianobserver or the dogs of Zambia {zwd} shame on UPND

  10. Upnd MPs go and oppose what you think is not in best interest of your people you represent why you crying on your social media Zambian observer or the dogs of Zambia(zwd) shame you are there asking is it mandatory ask you kainde you slaves of kainde

  11. Yaba. @cat Power, you are a joke. Do you even know who B R Mumba is? He is a fina ncial consultant and multi millionaire who went of Ivy leagues here in the USA and he understands economics and financial managements better than you. Try to research someone before you get into the ring with someone who knows more about economics and financial management than you assume. He is giving us advice based on his years of finance business acumen. So stop making noise just to be heard nge chisushi.

  12. “And Kikikikiki … God forbid that a murderously dangerous Kalashnikov (AK47) would find itself in the hands of an 80 year old woman” BR. MUMBA.. Hey! Thought BR. was good enough not to read plain text in plain English out of context! No one wrote about an AK47 finding itself in the hands of an 80 year old woman!

  13. @Mayanda Mulenga, you may be right about BR. MUMBA..the quality of posts may bear true reflection of the calibre of an individual, and so BR. MUMBA sometimes in his posts gives away a significant part of business ingenuity and acumen that are attributing to him! He needs to be careful in his analysis of public issues, mind you not everyone is a fool despite their meagre educational background or business acumen. Good thing is, no matter how uneducated everyone may be, they have a little piece or pieces of economics in them!

  14. Nothing to say but to repeat what’s been said above. Examine your own consciousness. Your party has said those who want can attend so what’s the problem. Or don’t you trust your party leadership, that they may turn around and punish you. Go attend and prove if it’s worthwhile then make a decision. 38 is big number to be fired.

  15. Ministers to continue in office after dissolution of parliament? So that they can use government resources to campaign? God forbid! God forbid! No wonder why this PF has destroyed this country

  16. People already claiming that this is a way for PF to extend their leader’s tenure blah blah, why dont you be part of it in numbers and defeat all those proposals and fears of the so called next Mu7?? If you sit out, then dont complain of whatever outcome will come out of it!
    Take a leaf from the so called ‘not so Great Britain’ MPs opposed to those terms of Brexit have stayed there and made sure they defeat all the bills they were not happy with. For you its to stay away and only complain in wrong places where it matters less

    • YOU ARE RIGHT.THERE IS NOTHING LIKE CONSULTING THE CHAIRMAN.PLEASE UPND MPS GO AND FIGHT WITHIN STAYING AWAY WILL NOT HELP YOU.

  17. Akainde and his slave MPs are a missed call. Some of them a so called learned lawyers. What a party of morons.

  18. Its better late than never and please even when you have to attend by default, don’t go to cause confusion but to contribute constructively. This opportunity may not come again sooner than the elections of 2021. I know deep down your hearts you all want to be part of the process but for fear of your bosses. The changes are not meant to suite your desires but are National. I call upon all of you who have stayed away to remove that shame mask and grab the opportunity with both hands.

  19. Always it is siting out or walking out in the end they receive penalties for luck of knowledge. Already they are seeking for knowledge, how are they going to run the country without good knowledge? Even on this one, the end will be punishment due to ignorance. They thought the mother church body is more powerful than everyone.

  20. @Mayanda Mulenga, you may be right about BR. MUMBA..the quality of posts may bear true reflection of the calibre of an individual, and so BR. MUMBA sometimes in his posts gives away a significant part of the business ingenuity and acumen that you are attributing to him! He needs to be careful in his analysis of public issues, mind you not everyone is a fool despite their humble educational background or business acumen. Good thing is, no matter how uneducated everyone may be, they have a little piece or pieces of economics in them!

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