The Grand Coalition Campaign for a people-driven Constitution is not surprised by Dr Scott’s sentiments on appointing MPs from outside Parliament because it is consistently reminiscent of the Patriotic Front (PF) government’s stance.
Over the last one year, the PF government has exhibited phenomenal arrogance around consensus building on national issues, particularly the release and content of the Constitution. It is very clear now that the current government has lost track of who they are accountable to.
Dr Guy Scott is aware that the Zambian Constitution is a mixture of both the American and the British systems but chooses to take advantage of the ignorance about constitutional law by many Zambians by deliberately distorting the issue of Zambia adopting the American Presidential system over that of the British Westminster Parliamentary system.
Zambia, being a sovereign state, has the liberty to draw aspects of the constitution from best practice experienced anywhere in the world. Zambians are demanding a people driven constitution which demands respecting the people’s aspirations. It is not an issue of selecting a bouquet of choices but rather delivering to the Zambians what they want.
[pullquote]Who and what checks the Zambian President’s powers? Whose interest is Dr Scott protecting?[/pullquote]
Dr Guy Scot knows very well that choosing ministers from outside Parliament is what the Zambian people want and that this clause was submitted in the spirit of reinforcing the doctrine of the separation of powers among the three branches of government; provide checks and balances and enhance accountability.
We cannot dispute the high likelihood that MPs not appointed as ministers would be solely accountable to their constituents while ministers appointed outside parliament would also be solely accountable to their portfolios and hence serve the people of Zambia better.
The current unfettered powers that the President has in the current constitution are actually borrowed from the American legislation and not the British one. The only difference is that the American President has other effective institutions such as congress that check his powers. Who and what checks the Zambian President’s powers? Whose interest is Dr Scott protecting? The oligarchy in power? Zambians are listening.
The Grand Coalition notes that Dr Guy Scott has been consistent and sincere in telling the nation that his government does not want a people driven constitution. This has been echoed in some of his previous public pronouncements: that a good president is better than a constitution; that development is more important than a new constitution; and that a new constitution would not bring progress to Zambia.
Finally, the Grand Coalition would like to remind Dr Scott that this constitution making process is not about what the PF or any other political party wants, it is about what the Zambians want.
McDonald Chipenzi
Spokesperson, Grand Coalition Campaign for a People Driven Constitution
Zambians we need to stop being ignorant….Thats why the descendants of colonialists are having a field day at our expense.
Pathetic Failures’ (PF).
Zambians are ignorant, period!
YOU ARE JUST “GRAND FAILURES” . You are so disorganised because personal interests and lack of trust. Pastor Mumbwe alefwaya ukuteka, Hyena Hyena nao alefwaya. Eyashi Chipuma nao alefwaya ukuba leader, Father Bwamba nao ati ninefye. Muletuchushafye just keep quiet!! Lekenifye ba PF baleteka. Fipuba fyesu fwe bene ! Filetusunga bwino!! Filwamya imisebo everywhere. Filepanga ama UNZA, umutengo wamataba ulifye bwino, !
@Yamba
Ha ha ha ati “Pastor Mumbwe alefwaya ukuteka, Hyena Hyena nao alefwaya. Eyashi Chipuma nao alefwaya ukuba leader, Father Bwamba nao ati ninefye.” Now that sentence cracked me up big time.Lol
Dr. Guy Guy Scott behaves as though he is full Zambian when in the actual sense he has a double (Dual) citizenship. He must keep quiet where the constitution issue is concerned and remain royal and listen to Zambians debating only. Its like he does not take note of what he is, as vice president whereby when the president is out of the Country, someone is left on as acting. It is not about racial discrimination but its about the real issues affecting pure and real Zambians.
I do not hate Dr. Scott but I hate the palatable language especially on the real Constitutional issue which does not affect him. He must close his mouth and live it to us daughters and sons of this soil because he can not give wise advise just because he is employed by PF government.
Bushe Stroke yaya kwisa kanshi? Coz this Muzungu is a really good candidate for it .. limbi kuti anashako ukusabaila!
He his a PIG of no value to Zambia. Its actually a shame to have such a fontini for a VP. Zambia must be cursed to have a retard for a president and a moron for a vice president
Opinions may vary but the issue remains the same. Executive Prime Minister is European and Executve President is American. The appointment of ministers outside parliament raises issues of failing the Litmus Test. Elected representatives must not be sidelined to appease those that lose elections. The number of nominations parliamentarins can be increased but imposing nominees is wrong.
You are right, private citizen. Matter of fact the ambassador appointments are already abused because losing MP candidates do get appointed into the foreign service, just as are failing senior civil servants. We need an added caveat clause that excludes all those who ran for office from being appointed into such positions.There are still a number of loopholes that both the current constitution and the proposed one presents quite easily.
I wonder where u live? If this is what u submitted to the constitution making conference (committees), why was it not adopted? Ala! Mwah!!
SO WE AR CALLING UPON ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS 2 JOIN US 2MORO AS WEE WILL BE LAUNCHIN THE BLACK FRIDAY HONKIN CAMPAIGN 4 THE RELEASE OF THE CONSTITUTION, CME WITH WATEVA U HVE WILL B WITH A ZAMCAB WITH MY FRNDS FROM SOWETO AND INTERCITY………
scott is smoking too much chamba
Judging from what is going on, it is clear that the Draft Constitution does not satisfy everyone. The best way forward is for all aggrieved stakeholders to pick out the contentious clauses and redraft them to suit the majority.
The on-going rabble-rousing is not helping anybody. Neither confront nor playing to the gallery will solve this problem; responsible dialogue will.
Redraft contentious clauses how? The way foward is to subject constitution to a referendum. This is why we want the “process” protected legally as just the “content” is not safe as can be seen by your. Is this what u submitted? Why was it not adopted??
It is only the 50 plus one and the presidential running mate which is causing fears in the PF. Teti bawine ba Scot ….. that is the fear. Everything else can easily be sorted out.
Guy Scott is a wrong person to speak about the constitution of Zambia. And for him to start talking about a 500 years of British constitution defies any logic. Guy Scott will keep on ranting as long as he is eating the change from the income generated by the swindling mines and tax payers money. He will continue to shamelessly support a constitution that is not in line with the current dispensation. Time has come for us to return to our freedom of expression that we won in 1991.
What Guy Scott and the PF have failed to to do is self reflection. Why is it that this his(party) is the most embarrassing party since 1964 .The British constitution allows political parties with a different view to campaign not the pathetic fellows.
@Yamba.’Fipuba fyesu fwe bene ! Filetusunga bwino!! Filwamya imisebo everywhere. Filepanga ama UNZA, umutengo wamataba ulifye bwino, ! Yamba, just eat son or daughter of a cadre. Your time is coming to be recalled from those appointments in diplomatic service which you don’t deserve. FILEMISUNGA BWINO because you are drawing stolen money for free. Illiterates. Shaa!
“In order to appreciate a good leader, you must first have a bad one.”
#OneZambia
@ Yamba, you are not realistic….Umutengo wamataba must be in line with umutengo wa buunga. The standard of living for the people of Zambia is very high……roads for Breakfast, Roads for Lunch and roads for Dinner…..Too bad. Can we eat Roads? The point really is that put-in , the right laws of the land(Constitution) and everything will be in place. The monetary budget(Bank of Zambia) and the National budget(Ministry of Finance) are not balancing. We are building/constructing roads on which account????
With or without the PF, we shall have our constitition one day! 2016 is around the coner and we shall see who laughs last, the PF and Guy Scot or the Zambian people,period!
The main culprit in the constitution-making process is ailing dictator Michael Charles Katongo Mwango Chilufya Sata; he doesn’t want good governance in Zambia.Guy Scott and Wynter Kabimba have no powers to frustrate the process.The Grand Coalition should compel Sata to provide a roadmap.