The thematic working group on representation of people at the ongoing National Constitution Convention have unanimously retained the 50+1 vote threshold clause in the First Draft Constitution for the election of the republican President.

And Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II has observed that it will be very difficult for a political party to garner more that 50% of the total votes cast in an election to win the polls due to uncontrolled mushrooming number of political parties in the country.

The thematic group on representation of people, which is being chaired by Francis Chigunta, has retained Clause (1) of Article 75 which provides that elections to the office of the President Shall be conducted directly on the basis of a majoritarian system where the winning candidate must receive not less than 50% +1 vote of the valid votes cast.

In supporting the clause, Lubansenshi Independent Member of Parliament Patrick Mucheleka said it would be a betrayal to the people of Zambia to remove the clause as they have spoken that they need a president with legitimacy of all Zambians.

Contributing to the debate, United Party for National Development (UPND) Secretary General, Winston Chibwe, noted that the clause will unite the country as all Zambians will have to agree on who to be their president as opposed to the current scenario which allows the candidate with the highest votes who might be the minority to become president.

But Solicitor General, Musa Mwenye, observed that Clause 1 which provides for the 50+1 votes, coupled with the Proportional Representation (PR) system of electing Members of Parliament, will create a very powerful president and a very weak parliament which he said was not good for the country.

Mr Mwenye further observed that Article 75 will make it difficult for candidates hailing from tribes that are not the majority in the country to win elections as people in Zambia vote not necessarily on tribal lines but on the language spoken in a certain region.

But the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) National Women’s chairperson, Faustina Sinyangwe, who was the National Constitution Conference vice chairperson, revealed that the NCC was thrown out because it failed to adopt the 50+1 vote clause which people dearly wanted.

Ms Sinyangwe, who served on the Mung’omba Commission, stated that people countrywide submitted to the Mung’omba that they wanted the clause, hence the need to retain it if the constitution is to be accepted by Zambians.

But Pambashe MP, Ronald Chitotela, differed with the views of the rest as he noted that even the president elected by the 50+1 vote is far from being called a majoritarian president because the country has less than half of its population who are registered voters, hence the need for the convention to revert to the current system.

The clause, when subjected to a vote, all delegates voted to retain it, except for Mr Chitotela who voted against and the Solicitor General who abstained.

In addition the working group has rejected the Proportional Representation (PR) system of electing MPs and replaced it with the mixed member representation system which is recommended in the Mung’omba Constitution Commission.

The PR system, which has since been amended, was going to allow political parties to get seats proportionate to the votes they receive in an election which most members observed was not good as it will allow all political parties, including the least, to get seats in all districts.

The same electoral system has since been unanimously adopted for use in local government elections.

Meanwhile Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II expressed worry at the mushrooming number of political parties in Zambia.

She noted that some political parties that have been registered have no national character and will only cause confusion during elections, especially after adopting the 50+1 vote clause, adding that the convention should device a way of regulating the number of political
parties.
[ZANIS]

Muvi TV station manager Costa Mwansa has been accused of facilitating the arrest of gay rights activist Paul Kasonkomona when he featured on a live TV show Sunday night.

Mwansa is the host of the Assignment, a current affairs talk show on Muvi TV on which Kasonkomona featured and strongly advocated for the respect of gay rights in Zambia.

Human Rights campaigners investigating the arrest of Kasonkomona have now revealed that Mwansa was constantly in touch with Police officers from Woodlands Police before and after Kasonkomona’s arrest.

The campaigners now plan to officially complain to Muvi TV management over the conduct of Mwansa following Kasonkomona’s arrest.

“We have conducted independent investigations into this matter and we are disappointed with Costa. We have information that he phoned the CIO at Woodlands Police hours before Paul arrived at Muvi TV and assured the officer that he will have Paul ready for them (arrest) after the interview,” the campaigners who opted to remain unidentified said.

“Even after the programme, Costa again phoned the CIO and assured him that even if Muvi TV security was tight, he will ensure that Paul is apprehended. It is very unfortunate and unprofessional for Costa to behave in such a manner,” they said.

They said Kasonkomona had demanded a verbal guarantee for his security from Mwansa before agreeing to feature on the Assignment.

“He phoned Woodlands Police and informed them of the vehicle Paul had attempted to use to flee the TV station which was sealed at the time. Costa told the officer to target the backseat of a green RAV 4, of all the vehicles that exited Muvi TV that evening, the officers just came straight to the backseat of the Rav 4 and picked Paul up.”

“It is very sad that after guaranteeing security, Costa decided to go back on his word, the campaigners said.”

Meanwhile, Kasonkomona has sued the state through the Attorney General for alleged unlawful detention.

Through his lawyers, SNB legal practitioners, Kasonkomona is claiming damages saying he is suffering false imprisonment.
He is also demanding damages for mental distress and injury.

In his statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court dated 10 April 2013, Kasonkomona claims police have been delaying to give him his tuberculosis and anti-retro viral drugs ARVs.

He says this puts his life at risk as it is against his medication timetable.

And Kasonkomona was this afternoon due to appear before the Lusaka Magistrate Court to take plea and make bail application.

The entire MMD executive in Isangano ward in Lubansenshi constituency have resigned leaving only the Ward Councilor in the party.Mr. Francis Kasonde who was the Ward Chairman disclosed to Zambia News and Information Services in Luwingu that the executive resigned to join the ruling Patriotic Front.

Mr. Kasonde called on their Member of Parliament Patrick Mucheleka to consider resigning as independent Member of Parliament and join the ruling PF for the area to benefit from government.He observed that for the past six years Lubansenshi constituency has been in opposition adding that time has come for people to realize that the Member of Parliament cannot bring development in the area unless he works with the government of the day.

Mr. Kasonde said if Mucheleka resigns and re-contest the seat under the ruling PF he would be given maximum support by the community who wants to benefit from government.He observed that roads in Lubansenshi constituency were in a deplorable state as compared to roads in Lupososhi constituency.

Mr. Kasonde said the government has promised people of Lupososhi constituency with improved road network while in Lubansenshi only one road has been earmarked for gravelling.
[ZANIS]