The constitution national conference has adopted Article 18 of the draft constitution which provides that a Zambian Citizen can acquire dual-citizenship.

Article 18 (1) in the draft constitution states that “A citizen shall not lose citizenship by acquiring the citizenship of another country”.

The proposal was widely supported, though some delegates from the Government wondered why a Zambian should acquire citizenship of another country.

But the majority of the delegates said the constitution was not only for now but was mainly for the children who would find themselves in situations where they would need dual citizenship.

The Government has been on record of not supporting the Dual Citizenship clause.

Last year when President Michael Sata addressed Zambians in London, he said that amending the law to allow dual citizenship has its consequences. Mr Sata said that if the law was changed, there will be more Zambians and jobs will be taken away by other nationalities living in the country.

In response to a question from a Zambian living in England during a dinner hosted for him at the Zambian High Commissioner’s residence. Mr Sata advised Zambians living abroad to return home and compete for jobs with their compatriots.

The President also said that he has a duty to protect the majority of Zambians especially poor citizens.

The Vice President Guy Scott also expressed a similar sentiment of not being in support of the Dual Citizenship clause. Addressing Zambians living in Western Australia at Edith Cowan University in Perth when he addressed in 2011, Dr Scott said that although the issue of having dual citizenship among Zambians could be important and helpful to some, government was worried that other people might misuse it for dubious activities.

“The issue of dual citizenship was important but we are worried about the misuse it will bring. But it would be important that you are entitled to that,” he told Zambians in Perth.

And during the provincial Convention, Government Ministers rejected the inclusion of the Dual Citizenship clause. Leading the charge during debates, Chief Government spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni said that the clause should be rejected on patriotic and nationalist grounds.

Debating on the motion, Mr Sakeni urged Zambians to critically look at the issue of dual citizenship and ensure that it was not allowed in Zambia.

“AS Zambians, let us critically look at the issue of dual citizenship and take the interest of the nation at heart. Why do people want to be citizens of other countries in the first place,” Mr Sakeni said.

His sentiments were echoed by Labour Deputy Minister Ronald Chitotela who argued that dual citizenship would make it difficult to extradite Zambians who committed crimes if they moved to other countries where they had citizenship.

“Let us denounce dual citizenship because even countries like United Kingdom are having difficulties to extradite criminals,” Labour Deputy Minister Ronald Chitotela said.

With the adoption at the ongoing national convention, the Dual Citizenship clause stands a good chance of being included in the final Draft Constitution to be ready by the end of June.

Dr Canisius Banda, the man heavily linked with the position of UPND Vice President says he has not been approached by the party over taking up the role.

In an interview, Dr Banda said he is still a committed member of the MMD and serving as Chairman for Health.

Some online media reports have reported that Dr. Banda will officially be unveiled to the media next week as the UPND Vice President, in a move most analysts view as a positive step towards stemming perception that the UPND is a tribal party.

But Dr Banda said that he may consider such an appointment if it came through after serious consultation with family, friends and the community.

“Leadership is not about self. It is about the people that you seek to serve, so I will consult if am formally approached,” Dr. Banda said.

Dr. Banda said he entered politics to serve the Zambian people and pay back for the education he obtained using Zambian tax payers money.

“Today I’m a Master of Public Health and I never went to private school, I was educated by the Zambian tax payer in public schools and I will be available if called up to serve the people,” he said.

He said opposition parties need to strengthen their collaborations in order to protect democracy which he said is under threat in Zambia.

Republican Vice President Dr Guy Scott says the country lagged behind in terms of development because of the massive corruption that was perpetuated by the former government of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

Dr Scott said huge sums of money which was meant for development in the nation landed into wrong hands by ruthless leaders who looted the funds for their selfish motives.

Dr Scott said this yesterday during a vigorous campaign trail to drum up support for the Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Eillen Imbwae in Kanshishi, Manjolo, and Mumbumbu wards in the newly created Mitete district in Likulu West constituency in Western Province.

The Vice president said corruption is a cancer to the nation because the vice retards development.

And Dr Scott has urged traditional leaders in the nation to help the PF government in fighting corruption.

He said it is high time government curtails and bring sanity in the nation because Zambians are expecting a lot from government.

He said Zambians should not worry under the PF government because President Sata is the father of democracy in the country and won’t tolerate corruption.

Dr Scott also promised the people from the three wards of relief food should they face the deficit of the staple food in the constituency.

He said having worked under the MMD government during the Chiluba regime he knows very well the resources of the nation were not applied appropriately hence the reason why the President Sata and him left the party to form the PF.

He further stated that the ruling party is the engine of development and warned the electorates in Lukulu not to vote for the opposition candidate on April 23, 2013.

Dr Scott said it is only the ruling government which is able to secure development in the country because they have resources to develop the nation.

The Vice President also told the people of Lukulu West that the PF administration will ensure that development is taken closer to the people of Mitete district.

And PF candidate for the Lukulu West By-elections Eilleen Imbwae said the PF is the only party which is able to uplift the living standards of Zambians.

Ms Imbwae said once voted as MP she’ll ensure that she works tirelessly for the electorates in the area.

She further appealed to the electorates to give her 100 per cent votes on April 23, 2013.

Ms imbwae who spoke in Luvale to the electorates said people shouldn’t experiment with leaders who won’t work for them but only satisfy themselves.

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National Restoration party (NAREP) President Elias Chipimo Junior has charged that a lot of things have gone wrong in the country ever since the Patriotic Front came to power.

Mr. Chipimo cites the mealie meal shortages in the country, unemployment and disrespect of court orders as some of the wrongs things happening.

He says the PF has betrayed the trust of the Zambian people by failing to fulfill campaign promises the party made prior to the 2011 elections.

Mr Chipimo adds that the PF stand no chance of winning the 2016 elections, stating that the people Zambia want a government that will address the various challenges they are facing.

He tells QFM News that the PF’s victory in the 2011 elections was not because the people of Zambia wanted the party, but that it was because Zambians wanted to get rid of the MMD which they had become fade up with.

He says the Zambian people will get rid of the PF the same way they got rid of the MMD.

And Mr. Chipimo has appealed to the PF government to respect court decisions.

He notes that it is not just with former president Rupiah Banda’s case where the government has exhibited disrespect towards the courts but many other cases such as that of the UPND rally in Kanyama which the police stopped.

President Michael Sata is tomorrow the 14th of April expected in Western province for a one day visit.

According to an official programme released by the Provincial Administration in Mongu today, Mr Sata who is scheduled to arrive in Mongu at 09:00 hours will pay a courtesy call on his Majesty the Litunga shortly after his arrival.

After the courtesy call the President will then leave Mongu for Mitete district where he is expected to hold two political rallies at Mitete and Muyondoti areas respectively to drum up support for PF candidate Eileen Imbwae in the Lukulu West By-election to be held on the 23rd April, 2013.

President Sata is expected to depart Mongu for Lusaka at 16:45 hours.

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