Information and Broadcasting Services Minister and Government Chief Spokesperson Joseph Katema has dismissed as baseless remarks by pposition UPND leader Mr Hakainde Hichilema that the Patriotic Front is unwilling to enact a new constitution because it wants to remain in office beyond 2016.
In a statement released to the media, Dr Katema said that the current constitution has managed to deliver smooth and peaceful transitions of power from one president to another since the beginning of plural politics over two decades ago.
Below is the statement in full:
STATEMENT BY HON. DR JOSEPH KATEMA, MP, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON ACCUSATIONS BY OPPOSITION UPND LEADER MR HAKAINDE HICHILEMA ON THE CONSTITUTION MAKING PROCESS
Government wishes to dismiss as baseless accusations by opposition UPND leader Mr Hakainde Hichilema that the Patriotic Front is unwilling to enact a new constitution because it wants to remain in office beyond 2016.
The statement attributed to Mr Hichilema in some sections of the media at best smacks off desperation as the opposition leader seems to be confusing the reasons for reviewing the constitution with his chances of winning elections.
The constitution Mr Hichilema calls “undemocratic” is the same one under which the country has had smooth and peaceful transitions of power from one president to another since we reverted to plural politics over two decades ago.
The fact that Zambia has had such a smooth and peaceful transition from one Government to another confirms that the current constitution is not in any way a hindrance to democratic transfer of power.
If indeed, the current republican constitution has ‘power’ to keep a ruling party in office for eternity, as Mr Hichilema puts it, then the former ruling party, the MMD, would not have been defeated in 2011.
But as we all know, Zambians voted out the MMD in preference for the Patriotic Front under the same constitution Mr Hichilema is now branding un-democratic.
It is not in dispute that the constitution needs revision in tandem with the aspirations of the Zambian people and the process in this regard is underway, as we promised when we were coming into office in 2011.
The process may appear to delay, but not derailed. We have said it before and we say it now – that we will not backpedal on our commitment to deliver a people driven constitution as espoused in our Party Manifesto.
In so doing, however, Government has a mandate to ensure the process is free from manipulation and dominance by those with narrow and private interests and agendas in this important national undertaking.
It ought to be appreciated that it is not the constitution that can keep a Government in power but its track record of performance in improving people’s lives.
This Government is on schedule and on track with its developmental agenda. Come 2016, the people of Zambia will decide who they will put in the cockpit of national affairs.
Hon. Dr Joseph Katema, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
9th August, 2014
Look at who is speaking; some animal from the Northern Province game reserve! These must be fake doctors or those that were malnourished due to over eating of cassava meals.
Sata said the same thing before he was elected,,,,, thats why he promised a 90days constitution which never came,,,, whats the whoha!!!
That’s why electing HH will be another mistake.We made a mistake in 1991 when we elected a person just because we wanted change without thinking of what they had to offer.We did the same in 2011.If we vote for HH in 2016 we will just be repeating history by just electing people just for the sake of change.He doesn’t even know what he will do for Zambia once elected.All he knows is that he wants to be the president.
Typical of HH. I’m not surprised he said that.He is a weirdo
HH kuwayawayafye.I will revoke my Zambian citizenship if that free mason gets elected.Glad he won’t anyway.
HH is a non factor why are government responding to him ?
Thanks
The PF is full of dull people. It is stu.pid to defend a constitution on which Sata and his government have spent millions of public money to change through their own PF appointed Technical Committee. And to this bozo of a government spokesman dear Katema use that small patch of grey matter in between those dish like ears of yours. There’s nothing wrong with what HH has said. Indeed a democratic constitution will only become a reality when an honest person is in State House. Sata and your PF cannot deliver a democratic constitution because Sata not long ago stated publicly that he is satisfied with the current constitution. He claims it is working. Of course we remember the tantrums Sata and his supporters threw up you were in opposition promising a new constitution in 90 days! You lied!
When I say PF is full of dull and mad people, this exactly what I mean.
Why did PF spend billions of Kwacha on the draft constitution if the current constitution was sufficient in it current form? This is utter idoicy on the part of the PF. That money spend on the draft paper could have been better spent to modernise our hospitals and training specialist doctors and nurses.
PF is full of scumbags.
The fact the whole PF regime is spending millions on the PR machine to discredit HH, shows that HH is the only formidable opposition the PF have. The rest are tuntemba parties on PF ‘s payroll.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Ba PF bazanya manzi
Dr. Katema is not malnourished ! He has simply had over-supply of ARVs while many ordinary Zambians are dying due to a lack or insufficient medication in government hospitals!! Shame on you!!! What kind of doctor are you??? Do you take your oath seriously above your ” Sebana wikute” manifesto of PF??? I hope you choke on your tablets, Dr Katema !!!
No wonder these people can’t think straight, look at all those sugary drinks, they are having!
@1.5 Mushota – Exactly. Why is government responding to him if he’s not a factor? You just answered yourself genius.
Intellectual, ….
Who is your candidate?
I thought every aspiring candidate bases their promises to Zambians on the content of their manifesto? We are all aware that the UPND, MMD, PF, NAREP etc all have manifestos. As for HH anyone who cares to listen knows what his party plans to do when elected into power. You can cheat and mislead many but not all.
@Let me say this…
You are absolutely right.
How can a bunch of dull and mad people in PF understand the progressive UPND manifesto? All what they know is to worship a president in hiding.
@Mawenge, you seem to be addicted to insults. Grow up my friend, it is possible to see yourself in Dr Katema.
It is undemocratic because for example in 2011 only 42% of the people wanted PF and 58% said no to PF.
HH is just a loser !! Never mind him.The chap has no clearly mapped out plan of how he plans to develop Zambia once elected.He is only motivated by his selfish ambitions to occupy state house at all costs.
You’re the loser Ashlo ! Afraid your taxpayer dependent life is coming to an end very soon! Whenever HH says something your whole PF government shakes and feels there’s need to respond. The PF never responds to Mumba or Chipimo. This suggests two things tribalism or most definitely they are not seen as a threat.
@ Saulosi
Do you REALLY and HONESTLY believe that Democratic Constitution allows the President of the State and CEO of the Government to disappear for weeks and to communicate with his EMPLOYERS and PAYERS OF HIS SALARY and HUNDREDS of other EXTREMELY COSTLY BENEFITS by Facebook?
If you do believe in that, can you PLEASE clarify how you know that he is in a full control of the machinery of the State and of his own capabilities (physical and intellectual) without basing your judgement on very same people whose livelihood depends on incumbent President been medically and intellectually fit for the job?
@142
Forget it, Saulosi won’t answer the tough questions you are asking. He will do his bongololo trick on you. He is likely to respond, but when you press him, he will demean you and use his signature “I’m out.” He will then go to another article and do exactly the same. If you think I am wrong, go through his past comments.
@ Sick Saulosi
No need. I love to compare idiocy with lack of moral principles.
But then, occasionally, albeit very seldom, he makes me laugh at the human idiocy.
HH is a tool! A seasoned attention seeker.
@Lulu: Ars.ewhore!
One of the reasons people voted for the PF was on the issue of delivering “people driven constitution within 90 days”. That was a very important and deciding campaign strategy for the PF. MMD had messed up their opportunity of delivering a people driven constitution at the time which the PF capitatlised on. The PF has now realised that their fortunes are quickly deminishing because of their dictatorial tendencies and a people driven constitution which the opposition can use to gang up against the PF by having a running mate, will not favour the PF in 2016. Us who are educated can see!
@ China
Well said and to the point.
But please, do not limit that knowledge to “…Us who are educated can see…”. Also Us uneducated but walking with open ayes and ears and using God given processor instead of Pentium i7 do see and hear constant and blunt breaches of our Constitutional Fundamental RIGHTS.
This HH, of late has been speaking on anything that he feels can galvanize masses against PF government. In his myopic view, he perceives termination of PF rule through enactment of new constitution before 2016 elections. To him and his cohort, a new constitution will have clauses which will bar Sata from re-contesting. To him and his undiscerning lot, 50%+1 clause in the anticipated new constitution will make it easy for PF to lose power because it will be difficult for any party to outrightly get the required share of votes. Even if it happened like this in the most unlikely circumstances, which party would be willing to almagamate with UPND to dislodge PF in the second round, (rerun)? Even if UPND congregated with five other insignificant parties PF would still come out winner.
HH must be making your stomach turn in fear,,,,,,2016 is open! change is coming,,,, get over it!!
The problem with the likes of Umubemba Inkonko is they they think the Zambian Constitution is about Sata, no, no! It is about posterity and all Zambians. In any case it was Sata who went to parliament and promised delivery of new constitution in 90 days. I have decided to ignore campaign promises and restricted myself to parliament……………….
@Ndobo.
Thats nothing bro. HH has infected these PF minions with a terrible form of insomnia . This explains why even Sata their boss is in hiding. He has to be sedated to sleep.
To remedy the condition, they have resorted to drinking Kachasu because normal beer can make them sleep upon hearing HH being mentioned.
HH is indeed a big problem , he is unwise his thinking capacity is very low , really if he was popular he can win elections under any constitution , what he doesn’t know is that he is not the best presidential candidate, as his name is dented with plunder of lwanshya mine , there are credible candidates , like magande , saki , miyanda ,nevers and the young chipimo . Zambia is not lack of leaders to pick a thief
kATEMA IS A USELESS DULL PERSON, HE FAILED TO PERFORM AT HIS FORMER MINSTRY, I REMEMBER VISITING HIM ON MANY OCCASIONS IN HIS OFFICE WHICH SMELT TOBACCO AS HE IS A SERIAL CHAIN SMOKER AND HE KEEPS ON GOING TO THE TOILET FREQUENTLY DURING IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS. HE DIGUISES TO JILIJILI WITH DRINKS LIKE COKE. HE IS UN AN ALCOHOLIC MEDICAL DOCTOR WHO I CANNOT CONSULNT FOR A SIMPLE HEALTH PROBLEM EVEN SIMPLE COUGH SINCE . IT IS SHAME FOR MEDICAL DOCTOR TO BEHAVE LIKE HIM. IN SHORT HE IS STUPID AN ENGLISH WORD WHICH SIMPLY MEANS NOT CLEVER
@ Intellectual, Mune, don’t even mention something like ‘electing someone for the sake of change’. Who are in the mode of changing the government when the euphoria of ushering in the revolutionary PF government has not even reached its peak? Epoch making changes of governments only happen after 20 years in Zambia. 1964, from colonial to UNIP, 1991, from UNIP to MMD, 2011, from MMD to PF. You can see that changing of government from PF to any other party is not in any foreseeable future of less than twenty years.
Kanshi Ulinoku dabwa sana come 2016….In fact the by-elections results will shock you and your relatives !!!
Am convinced now that some PHD holders have Permanent Head Damages. Katema is one. Whom can he cheat that his party wants to take chances with this constitution. Please when you tell a lie on behalf of your dictator remember you are a Dr. God is on the side of his people. Shame on these tribalists.
mr president pliz bring back pipo like lubinda in leadership. politics is about skillful talking. we need pipo like masebo, lubinda and mutati who can tell HH the truth
What’s the big deal!the man promised let him deliver as he said….why should people fight over something data promised eka muzuba noti ushiku.shame on Pf. @list I no that I made a mistake to give them a vote(2016)HH u have my vote.
Dr Joseph Katema, you and entire PF govt are shameless liars. You have lied to the world that Sata is healthy and fit and working hard. But of course you and all Zambians know Sata is very sick, but you have chosen to hang on to the lie because you are stuck with it. If I were you, during this hiatus of yours from professional conduct, I would remove the prefix ‘Dr’ from your name. It’s contradictory and misleading, don’t you agree?
Guys HH is not a factor, why panicking, why blocking his way , let him move freely as long you dont fear him.
This Dr. Katema liar is full of non. sense. Maybe he should think about the poor suffering people on the grassroots who have no medicines in government hospitals. He should also remember that the ordinary people of Zambia have no access to medicines and most of them are finding it difficult to put food on the table!! This current constitution has worked against the people and their freedoms…this is why the people-driven constitution needs to be adopted in order to help get rid of people like you due to non-performance !!!
Dr Katema is among the professional Ministers who uses civil language unlike cadres. I honestly do not see why he should receive insults on his person. Lets express our disagreement with what he has said, but not insult him.
@Saba Asa
Katema is not respected because of ” one rotten nut amongst good ones in your mouth makes you spit everything” phenomenon.
The sick people now go to these government hospitals to die !! The facilities are dilapidated and have nothing to offer. Katema has his access to HAART medication while the ordinary man/woman/child on the street are sent from pillar to post for these life-saving medication. And you think you can convince us that the current constitution is working for the ordinary people of Zambia?? This constitution is simply working for you the PF !!!
I ask the non-North tribes, why side with this group of people whose ambition, desire, intent, preoccupation and sole reason for surviving is to suck ‘blood’ and ride on your backs. These people are like their relatives the congolese. Full of nothing but deceit, theft and everything the people of the South and other non-North tribes abhor. Critically think: what do the other tribes in Zambia have in common with those people from the Congo forests? In fact so differen are we that the North is better placed with DRC. They are one and same conmen. And so here, they will shout thief, thief, tribalist, tribalist on innnocent people when they are actually the ones that practices those vices. Question: can you leave a chicken in the north outside your home ad find it the following day?
Dear Pf government, ignore this cotton head piece of cow dang (HH). dont lower yourselves to the level of a freemason satanist tribal cave man
Zambians, please learn to read about and understand things. Freemasonry is NOT Satanism! All these organisations like Royal Antediluvian Order of the Buffaloes (R.A.O.B.), Memorable Order of the Tin Hats (M.O.T.H.), The Freemasons, etc. are just ‘brotherhood’ clubs exclusively for charitable works. Certain chapters only admit rich members who also use them for business networking. You cannot just join by yourself. You have to be invited and you certainly have to have money!
when the PF were in opposition, they found a problem with the constitution, that is why they used the theme A PEOPLE DRIVEN CONSTITUTION. so now, what have they found not to their liking in the PEOPLE DRIVEN CONSTITUTION? give as the constitution please as promised. HH is not being unreasonable in what he is saying; this same constitution will be the downfall of the PF if it is not released
Five years without a President, what a constitution!
What Zambians need to do is to show politicians that they will be voted out of power if they break promises. They did it to Rupiah. Now they need to do it to Sata. It is only then that politicians will come to realise who is boss! MPs like this one should also be kicked out.
IF I MAY ASK JUST WHAT LED SATA INTO CHOOSING 90 DAYS FOR ACHIEVING SO MANY THINGS? DID HE THINK THIS WAS GOING TO MAKE HIM ANOTHER JESUS OR WHAT OR SOME KIND OF ARCHITECT OF A GRAND FAIR ZAMBIAN SOCIETY? THIS IS POLITICAL MISCARRIAGE (EVEN A BABY IS NOT BORN IN 90 DAYS) AND BLASPHEMY (JESUS HAD 40 DAYS FOR A SIGNIFICANCE AND GOD MADE THE UNIVERSE IN 7 DAYS BECAUSE THESE GUYS ARE BEYOND HUMAN COMPREHENSION). NOW TO START MAKING PREDICTIONS ATTACHED TO DAYS IS GOING TO FAR. SOMEONE MIGHT PAY A PRICE FOR THIS POLITICAL MISJUDGEMENT.
Let me say one thing. All those that voted for PF because of the 90 days promises, are the dullest of all time. A worldly being promises to do 5000 things within 90 days and people believe. I voted for PF because I believed they were going to deliver. Not in 90 days, not in 2 years and maybe not in 5 years. They are making their mistakes but they are working. I never saw so much development in the 20 years MMD was in power. Not even when the late Mwanawasa (MHSRIIP) was President.
@ 17 Siamanengo, your intent is evil.You are insighting tribes against other tribes. You want to cause civil war in this Country. It won’t happen because God is with us. You belong to the devil. You want to cause destruction to this Country. The devil is there to destroy to kill. God builds. May God deliver yu