PRESIDENT Michael Sata has distanced Government from any intentions of manipulating the draft Republican Constitution describing such a motive as retrogressive and selfish.
President Sata dismissed as groundless opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema’s assertions that the Patriotic Front (PF) administration plans to manipulate the draft Constitution and ‘sneak’ in a clause that would extend the presidential term to eight years.
President Sata advised Mr Hichilema to conduct a self-introspection and assess if his endless slander, pessimism and bitterness was adding value to the country’s political discourse.
“Nobody within or outside Government has ever contemplated or lobbied for such a retrogressive and selfish agenda,” Mr Sata said.
Mr Sata said it was clear that Mr Hichilema lacked political civility or basic decency and was resolved to harm mature, rational and constructive discourse on matters affecting the country.
“In fact we are eager to give the opposition a chance to test their popularity in 2016. We have no doubt that the Zambian people will judge us on the basis of the unprecedented massive infrastructural and other developmental projects, which are being done in the interest and for the benefit of the Zambians.
“These kinds of careless claims only proves that we are dealing with a desperate loose cannon who is constantly in denial and determined to display his fallacious notion, just to massage his ego,” he said.
The President said this in a statement in Lusaka yesterday issued by State House Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah.
Mr Hichilema recently accused the Government of planning to alter the Constitution and extend the presidential term to eight years.
On allegations that Government was inducing by-elections to have Parliament dominated by the ruling party, Mr Sata reiterated that, if the opposition parties whose Members of Parliament were currently serving in Government allowed their parliamentarians to contribute without intimidation there would be no need for the by-elections.
He said in the spirit of inclusivity and co-existence, the PF administration would collaborate with whoever was prepared to contribute to the development of the country to stimulate social and economic growth.
“Every responsible Government world over will make sure that it consolidates itself to be in a position to deliver on the promises that got it elected into office, especially if faced with injudicious and unpatriotic leaders of the opposition who are recklessly resolved to undermine Government’s ability to deliver services to the people,” he said.
He re-affirmed his personal commitment to deepening democracy, equality and respect for the will of the Zambian people.
Ba LT, check the heading of this story again.
Ba LT, good to see the correction.
don’t mention it
I didn’t even know Sata wanted to over stay more than 4 years.
I can imagine, leaving this life which has cleaned him from looking like an hyena? It will take soldiers to take him out state house, like his nephews the Mailoni brothers.
Zambia is full of gullible people, hence no progress. Continue eating greasy KFC
@ nubian
iwe princess,,, what are saying today? are you now born again into the opposition and you have stopped supporting your shikulu ukwa sata??…
now you donot want him to go 8yrs term of office??,,, just the other day you were support dancing in his chitenge!!!! hahahhahahahahh
anyway welcome to the opposition only if you are born again!!
Why don’t you take your time going through yo informations b4 it reaches us entirely?
Zambians are gullible and docile and that’s why they will swallow all the vomits that comes from the Bufi mouth piece guys. I know for the fact that the president has not been issuing those statements claimed to come from state house. Having lived in Zambia and worked with him the president in various sectors, I know him very well just like the man would know a breast of his woman. He has no capacity and ability to say all that rubbish that is mostly reported through the press statement. I will only believe it when I see him addressing the press and the nation live on tv. But obviously, there’s a strong reason why that has not happened and this is an open secret.
Well said Mr. President. Please continue leading our nation into prosperity
Continue?
The moment I read that the statement was issued by Chelah, I know it was mmembe at work. So president Sata has time to answer HH, but no time to even pass condolences to those shot dead by ZNS..
Surely, this statement was authored by one Fred Mmembe, we all know his language. Mamama! what a country.
I agree with you. It is very unpresidential language. The language is that of a tabloid in a third world country.
This article has no language of our leader, but some news paper editor is behind this article. The language as that of one of the daily tabloids in Zambia. Chella, this is not you language too.
Mumembe at work here his signature language is clear for all to see.
Its good that the term of Office will remain
as it is, but what of the other aspects of the
Constitution? We need human rights, free speech
and protection of media personnel.
Well, it is a file news to say. I hope we are laid by file president here.
PF direct reference to HH as source over plans to extend presidential-term implies the government is rattled and uncomfortable with the truth. Mr Sata should recall that HE received all imformation from sources within the former govt when was in opposition. HH too is receiving sources of information he tells the nation from PF ministers, deputity ministers (poched from opposition), ordinary workers at state house and all other PF members and general public. The responses made on any subject matter raised means HH is effective and makes (checks) PF govt run around on its toes.
Chi Mmembe
Remember Step Father can not trusted~ stay on these thugs HH.
why shpuld hh heed sata’s advice wheb sata was exactly the same no actually worse when he was in opposition