Thursday, March 28, 2024

UPND is cared of Facing President Lungu on the Ballot, hence Fanning the Eligibility Debate-Kafwaya

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The opposition UPND is scared of facing President Edgar Lungu on the ballot paper in the forthcoming general elections, says Lunte Member of Parliament Hon Mutotwe Kafwaya.

Hon Kafwaya, who is also Transport and Communications Minister, wonders why the UPND and their surrogates have continued to talk about President Lungu’s eligibility despite the Constitutional Court ruling over the matter. Hon Kafwaya said this when he featured on Kasama Radio Station in Kasama District, Northern Province. The programme was also carried live on seven other radio stations in Northern Province.

Hon Kafwaya emphasized that President Lungu is eligible to stand further clarifying that his eligibility is just a political debate now.

“Listen my elder brother, this debate of President Lungu being eligible to stand is a waste of time because the Constitutional Court already ruled on this matter. Why are they scared of President Lungu in this manner? Let me tell you why, it’s because they know they can’t defeat him in an election,” he said.

“Let me emphasize that the court ruled on this matter but the opposition still talks about it. You can’t appeal the decision of the Constitutional Court. The court guided that President Lungu ruled for one year from 2014 to 2015 and that does not constitute a term of office. The court further guided that President Lungu’s first term started in 2016 and his second term starts from 2021. Shockingly, they still debate about this matter despite that judgment by the court.”

The Lunte Lawmaker also said UPND is not ready to govern the nation as they even fail to come up with a workable manifesto.

He said if they were ready to take over the governance of the country, they would even have managed to come up with an alternative Economic Recovery Plan based on what the PF government of President Lungu has produced.

President Edgar Chagwa Lungu drums up support for the Patriotic Front (PF) Candidate Mulenga Fube in the February 13th Parliamentary by-election at Santa Maria Mission in Chilubi constituency, Northern Province.
FILE: President Edgar Chagwa Lungu drums up support for the Patriotic Front (PF) Candidate Mulenga Fube in the February 13th Parliamentary by-election at Santa Maria Mission in Chilubi constituency, Northern Province.

Meanwhile, Chilubi Member of Parliament Mulenga Fube has charged that the opposition are bringing up the third term debate because they are scared of being defeated by President Edgar Lungu and the Ruling Patriotic Front (PF).

Mr. Fube explained that the opposition are bringing up the debate so that they can confuse people who want to support President Lungu in the August general election.

He however, stated that President Lungu is eligible for another full term as he has only served one term in office according to the constitution.

He said the Constitution court has already ruled that President Lungu has only served one term and wondered why people are bringing up the debate.

“The highly respected court has already ruled that President Lungu has only ruled for one term. The first rein which was only for a year and some months cannot be counted as a term” he said.

Mr. Fube has since challenged opposition political parties not to bring up unnecessary issues but compete favourable in the political arena.

“Let people compete favourably by seeking votes from the people. Let them compete through issue based campaign” he said.

He has further advised Zambians to ignore the third term notion and continue supporting President Lungu.

35 COMMENTS

  1. Why cant you not just debate the eligibility issue without bringing in your small opposition party opponents …Zambia is bigger than PF and UPND. If Lazy Lungu had any leadership acumen he would have told his members to focus on working and let the courts do their work when his nomination is challenged.

  2. One Problem that will arise is that if Lungu is allowed to stand is that if he wins, he can decide to dissolve the national assembly before 2026 and call for early elections after serving for 4 years. At this point he can claim that he has not twice held office because the period between 2021 and 2025 did not amount to full term of office. Backed by this decision from the constitutional court that would have allowed him to contest 2021 elections,Lungu would again be eligible again and again and can be life president. This can also be done by another person who may become President of the country , as long as the constitutional rules that Lungu can contest 2021 election this august. This is why we need the constitutional court to provide clarity and explain the basis of whatever decision…

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  3. It’s not a matter of being scared. It’s a matter of the law and right vs wrong. Even if it were muliokela standing who has no hope in hell of winning but if he used illegal means of being on the ballot then people will still object because the law has to be followed. If anything Lungu will be the easiest candidate to beat from PF.

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  4. Tarino I warned you about your continued abuse of our government and zambian with your insulting comments. Cyber bill is working effectively, LT thank you for moderating these upnd diasporans.

    Back to article, of course these baboons are scared of ECL. they know their tribal leader can never win against him. Let them rot in new kasama

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  5. Bowman Lusambo says ECL should Rule beyond 2026.So this is not about the Third Term anymore. It’s about a return to a One Party State Dictatorship under KK from the current Multi Party System. So should PF retain Power in 2021 they will amend the Republican Constitution to turn Zambia back to a One Party State Dictatorship. Zambians aware of these PF Plans must vote wisely on August 12,2021, otherwise their Country will be returned to a One Party State Dictatorship. The writing is on the wall.

  6. WHY IS THE PF QUICK IN REFERRING TO SOME COURT RULING INSTEAD OF THE CONSTITUTIONS: THE ONE ON WHICH LUNGU ASCENDED TO THE PRESIDENCY IN 2015 TOGETHER WITH THE 2016 (CURRENT ONE). ACCORDING TO THE 2015 ONE LUNGU’S 17 MONTHS IN POWER WAS A TREATED AS A FULL TERM. SO WHY SHOULD ANYONE BE SCARED OF LUNGU WHOSE AMBITIONS FOR A 3RD TERM ABROGATES THE CONSTITUTION?

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  7. I am just concluding a meeting with a current upnd official who is requesting to join pf. What is happening in upnd is sad. A lot of members are apparently unhappy with hh dictatorial tendencies.

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  8. BRING IT ON PFF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NATIONAL DEBATE LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE WHO IS RIGHT FOR THE COUNTRY
    ECL VS HH ON RADIO AND TV
    WHAT YOU SCARED OF ???????????

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  9. In terms of Article 52 of the Republican Constitution any Citizen can challenge the Nomination of ECL as a Presidential Candidate for 2021 Elections . It is not a UPND issue but a Constitutional issue. Once a Nomination is Petitioned ,Concourt will consider the Constitutionality of that Nomination. If Concourt finds ECL legible then he can contest the 2021 Elections. The Dan Pule and Others Judgment cannot be used bar Citizens from Petitioning Lungu’s Eligibility. There’s no need for PF Cadres to panic about ECL’s Eligibility. Concourt will Professionally and Objectively consider all the Petitions filed with Concourt.

  10. If Concourt has cleared ECL to stand in 2021 why are PF Cadres scared that Concourt will find ECL ineligible when he is Petitioned? Once ECL’s Nomination is Petitioned then Concourt will merely re-confirm ECL’s Eligibility. Why is Paul Moonga doubting that Concourt Judges can do a Professional and Objective job and still find ECL legible? Why suggest that the Opposition is bribing Judges to Rule that ECL is illegible? It’s sad that PF Cadres have no faith in Concourt Judges. They think that Concourt Judges are corruptable. That very sad devt indeed.

  11. Noooo Kafwaya,

    It is lungu scared of facing HH in free and fair elections , hence the use of his violent PF thugs to attack radio stations and citizens wearing opposition colures and the use of PF police to prevent opposition from mobilising……….

    After spending billions , lungu should be ashamed of his brutal tactics……

  12. TIKKI
    CAN YOU STOP YOUR F000LSNESS?
    NATIONAL DEBATE!!!!
    WHAT IF SUCH A DEBATE WAS BASED ON MANIFESTO, HH HAS NONE.
    WON’T YOU CLAIM PF MANIPULATION?

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  13. Our Elections are guided by the Republican Constitution. That is why any Nominations made should be vetted to ensure that they are Legal and Constitutional. After Nominations are closed on May 14,2021 any Citizen is free to challenge ECL’s Nomination for the 2021 Elections. ECL has held,been elected and sworn in twice and is therefore ineligible to stand for a Third Term in 2021. Concourt will therefore need to make a Ruling on ECL’s Eligibility.

  14. Zambia is a Constitutional Democracy guided by the Republican Constitution which is the highest law in our land. Our Elections therefore must be legal and Constitutional. Any Nomination of a Presidential Candidate can be Petitioned at Concourt by any Citizen. On May 14, 2021 any Citizen is free to Petition Lungu’s Eligibility for the 2021 Elections. Concourt will vet ECL’s Nomination and make a Ruling on his Third Term Eligibility. Period.

  15. @LUAPULA PREMIER
    YOU ARE A PUPPET BRING ON A NATIONAL DEBATE
    IF HH IS AS BAD AS YOU SAY MORE VOTES FOR PF
    STOP USING LAME EXCUSE
    BRING IT ON
    INFACT LET THE PRESIDENT FACE ALL PARTY HEADS ON A ONE ON ONE BASIS

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  16. KIKIKI AT LEAST @LUAPULA PREMIER HAS ONE THING IN HIS FAVOUR
    HE DOENT USE BAD LANGUAGE LIKE YOU
    PLUS YOU WONT MATCH YOUR PRESIDENT OUR PRESIDENT AT THE MOMENT AGAINST ANYONE
    EVEN NEVERS KIKIKI

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  17. If the first 3years was not a full term why did they call for election, they would have let him continue his full term. If the people of Zambia would be so irresponsible to vote this man to power for a third term, the should not cry if they open for themselves a door to dictatorship.

  18. @nebo. U have put it very well. If Concourt says ECL is legible for a Third Term then ECL will become President for life and as Bowman Lusambo says ECL will then Rule beyond 2026. We will then be back to KK’s One Party State Dictatorship. Zambians have fight ECL’s attempt to steal a Third Term in the same way we blocked Chiluba’ s Third Term.

  19. A NATIONAL DEBATE WOULD BE MOST WELCOME as some of us are undecided on who to vote for. Set it up ECZ…Lungu vs HH and make us the Thomases decide.

  20. Lungu does not do live questio and answers , he is too scared of being asked about his wealth in a national debate.

    How does he explain $360k to $2.1 million in 18 months in office ????

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  21. What will happen if ECL decided to resign as President on March 31,2021 with 4 Months and 11 days b4 the Election Day, August 12, 2021? VP Inonge Wina would takeover as Acting President to complete ECL’s 5 Year Term for 4months and 11 days. If ECL changed his mind and wanted to run again in 2021 can ECZ and Concourt approve his Candidature on the basis that ECL has never served a 5 Year Term of Office since 2015 and is therefore entitled to 2 New Five Year Terms from August 13, 2021 ? These are the issues Concourt should clarify.

  22. Why should HH and UPND be forced to participate in an illegal and unconstitutional Election? ECL must clear his Eligibility with Concourt first b4 he is allowed to contest the 2021 Elections. Period.

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  23. No Citizen has a Right to Petition Lungu’s Eligibility becoz Bill 10 repealed Article 52 of the Republican Constitution. So Concourt will not accept any Petitions challenging Lungu’s Eligibility in 2021.

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  24. PF should leave Concourt to hear and determine ECL’s Eligibility Petition by any Citizen and then make a Ruling. What is PF afraid of?

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  25. The one who is scared is the one who always runs away from national presidential debates and interviews by independent media.!!! Bring on the Presidential debates !!!!

  26. Those claiming to be undecided and asking for a national debate between ECL and HH are just completely out of touch with Zambian politics.
    No need for a debate as we just have to look at economic situation in our families and ours neighborhoods in Zambia.
    The vote has nothing to do with HH,Kalaba,Kambwili etc. but totally about continuing with the rot or stopping the rot.
    ITS EITHER YOU LET THE PF CONTINUE OR YOU BOOT THEM OUT.

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  27. Both ECL and HH are not good at debate. Lungu is on a quiet side and likely to be taking a lot of time to answer any question, whilst HH will keep saying I will fix it, when I am elected. In short those undecided you will get more confused. The best is let these political parties publish their manifestos in newspapers after all it’s not the president who runs government but civil servants.

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  28. The Dan Pule and others Concourt Judgment dealt with Term Limits. Whereas the Petition (s) by John Sangwa and others is challenging Lungu’s Eligibility based on holding Office,being elected and sworn in twice and therefore being ineligible for a Third Term in 2021. Concourt should hear and determine Petition(s) filed with it in terms in terms of Article 52 of the Republican Constitution. Concourt needs to deal with this Professionally and Objectively to avoid social strife in Zambia. Concourt is between a Rock and a Hard Place.

  29. EXCUSES EXCUSES EXCUSE
    THE PEOPLWE WANT A DEBATE A SUCCESS OF FAILURE LET US DECIDE
    NOT THE PARTY NOT THE GOVERNMENT FOR US

  30. Kaizar Zulu you are the one that makes this nation an embarrassment, we dont need your immaturity on these chants and I think how we go about this political debate all wrong . PF this UPND that, only GOD is bigger in life and more Important then this and we dont praise him anymore like you do these two punks. Kaizar if you a political figure that you say you are show some maturity in your comments.

  31. PF Cadres believe that Lungu’s Eligibility was settled in Concourt. Those who believe ECL’s Eligibility was not settled in Court should be allowed to challenge ECL’s Nomination in Concourt in terms of Article 52 of the Republican Constitution. Those who believe that Lungu’s Eligibility was settled by Concourt cannot stop Concourt from Hearing and determining Lungu’s Eligibility after Nominations are closed on May 14,2021. Concourt should be allowed to adjudicate Petitions lodged against Lungu’s Third Term Steal in a Professional and Objective manner.

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