THE Government has said the country has not violated the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights by allowing the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) to adopt a clause that requires a presidential candidate to be a holder of a university degree because it is the citizens themselves that demanded that their presidents be degree holders to articulate issues intelligently.

Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said the citizens were well represented in the NCC and that the decisions made by the conference were a reflection of what the people of Zambia wanted.

Gen Shikapwasha was reacting to Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata who yesterday said that Zambia had violated the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights by allowing the NCC to adopt a clause that requires a presidential candidate to be a holder of a university degree.

“Zambia has not violated any charter because it is the Zambian people that want the presidential candidate to be a degree holder and so whatever Mr Sata is talking about has no substance,” Gen Shikapwasha said.

He said that by the NCC recommending that a presidential candidate should be a degree holder, it was merely stating that whoever wanted to aspire for the office should be an enlightened person.

Gen Shikapwasha compared the person seeking the office of presidency to an individual looking for a job either in the private or public sector.

“There is no such a thing as violation of the charter in as far as qualifications are concerned, otherwise people would not have been getting jobs.

If you are looking for a job and the employers are saying you should have a degree there is no way you can say no.

In this case, the Zambian people who are the employers are saying they want a degree holder to aspire for presidency,” Gen Shikapwasha said.

Similarly, Gen Shikapwasha said it would be illogical for any Christian to claim that he would go to heaven if such an individual has not come to know Jesus.

Gen Shikapwasha said that for as long as anybody that claims to be a Christian does not know Jesus, such an individual would not go to heaven.

Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Sata said Zambia had violated the charter to which it was a signatory under the African Union (AU). He said the nation had violated Article 13 of the charter. “Zambia has violated the African charter which allows for the various forms of freedom.[quote]

In the past 45 years, we fought against the white minority to rule so that the majority can rule but now we are going back to the situation where the minority should again rule. The country has violated Article 13 of the charter,” Mr Sata said.

Article 13 of the charter states that every citizen shall have the right to participate freely in the Government of his country, either directly or through freely chosen representatives in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Mr Sata argued that by restricting the position of presidency to a degree holder, Zambia was now allowing the minority to rule.

Meanwhile, Lusaka lawyer Christopher Mundia has supported the degree requirement for a presidential candidate saying the move was not in any way discriminatory.

Reacting to the NCC’s adoption of an article that requires a presidential candidate to have a minimum qualification of a first degree, Mr Mundia said that the article was important.

He said by adopting the article, the NCC acted in line with the aspirations of the Zambian people because the world had become complicated and ill-qualified persons could not articulate development issues.

He said in the era of a global village, there was need for enlightened leaders because the days of the blind leading the blind were long gone.

Zambia had seen positive sustenance of the economy because of enlightened leadership of late president Levy Mwanawasa and the continued leadership of President Rupiah Banda who was not only a degree holder but an experienced economist.

He said the degree requirement for a president entrenched the wishes of the Zambian people and that it was interesting to hear that some aspiring candidates felt that the clause was targeted at them.

On the 50 per cent plus one clause, Mr Mundia said it was unnecessary as it would be expensive in the event that a re-run was to be conducted.

He explained that next year, 2.5 million people were expected to vote when the population was about 12 million and issues of legitimacy could not arise and therefore, the simple majority should be the best.

[Times of Zambia]

Former Defense Minister Ben Mwila has alleged that allowing Patriotic Front President to become republican president will be allowing Zambia to experience civil war.

Mr Mwila who is also National Democratic Focus president alleges that Zambians will be making a grave mistake by voting for Mr Sata to be republican president saying he will be abrogating the constitution with impunity which is not in the best interest of the Zambian people.

He said Mr Sata is not fit to lead the country adding that he is only fit to lead Patriotic Front.

And United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema said today that the PF/UPND Pact will not be coerced into choosing its presidential candidate for 2011 elections.

Speaking this morning on JOY FM’s The Platform Programme, Mr Hichilema said the PF/UPND Pact has taken a decision not to preoccupy itself with the presidency at the moment.

He said what they are preoccupied with is ensuring that there is unity in the membership of the two political parties. He accused the MMD of trying to stir trouble in the UPND/PF Pact by suggesting that particular tribes have their preferred candidates for the Pact’s 2011 presidential candidate.

Mr Hichilema said the PF/UPND Pact has nothing to do with tribe as is being portrayed by the ruling party. He wondered why the MMD is concerned about the PACT’s presidential candidate when they have been spelling doom for the PACT.

Mr Hichilema said the MMD are irked because they know that the exit doors are widening and time is running out for them.

QFM

The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) says the PF/UPND pact is not shaken by the defection of more than 20 of its members to the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) in Lusaka’s Munali constituency.

PF Spokesperson Given Lubinda told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the pact is not shaken because there are more people who are willing to join them.

Mr. Lubinda said members defecting from the pact to join the MMD would regret their decision in 2011 claiming that the PF/UPND pact will emerge victorious in the general elections.

He said those who are leaving the party for the MMD do not realize that the PF/UPND pact was the rightful party with a vision.

More than 20 members of the opposition PF/UPND pact on Saturday left their parties to join the ruling MMD while over 80 more are said to have indicated their intentions to leave their parties and join the MMD.

ZANIS

THE MMD says it abhors politics of violence and insults and has called on opposition political parties to avoid verbal assaults against their political opponents.

MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya said Zambians are more interested in politics of development and not mud-slinging and name-calling.

Ms Siliya said the MMD is a party that believes in democracy but that it will not condone indiscipline from members that have gone wayward.

Ms Siliya condemned alleged threats by MMD Lusaka Province youth chairperson Chris Chalwe that youths would gang-rape Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi for allegedly insulting President Banda. Ms Siliya said the statement is unfortunate.

She said this in an interview on Zambezi FM radio in Livingstone on Saturday.

“Let us play politics of development and not politics of electioneering all the time. There must be a time for politics of development. The MMD believes in democracy and dialogue.

“We are not for violence, insults and name-calling. What the people of Zambia want to hear is what kind of developmental agenda we have and not who can mouth out the worst insult,” Ms Siliya said.[quote]

She said it is important that the country’s political space be filled with issues affecting people rather than insults and violence.

Ms Siliya said the MMD youth are forced to make certain statements because some opposition political leaders are always insulting President Banda.

She said every leader has a following and that when that leader is insulted or carelessly spoken about, his or her followers are bound to respond negatively.

“What people should realise is that President Banda, as leader of the MMD, has a lot of followers. So, when you begin to insult or speak negatively about him, you are inciting his followers to respond in a negative manner.

We should not forget that there are people who are so passionate about President Banda and respect him. However, two wrongs do not make a right, so we must at all times avoid violence and insults,” Ms Siliya said.

She said her prime occupation as the ruling party’s spokesperson is to market the vision of the MMD and attract as many members as possible.

Ms Siliya denied assertions that she is President Banda’s ‘blue-eyed girl’ who is above reproach and untouchable.

She said people are free to make their own opinions about her, adding that she has always added value to the party.

Ms Siliya said the MMD appointed her as the party’s spokesperson because it believed she has qualities apart from being hard-working and a team player.

She said she was humbled to have been considered for the position of spokesperson for the MMD, adding that it is a sign that the ruling party is moving with time.

Ms Siliya also endorsed the expulsion of MMD Livingstone Constituency chairman John Mwamulima, saying even when the party is committed to democratic principles, there is need for members to be disciplined.

She said President Banda believes in dialogue and discipline and that it is important that members respect rules and regulations governing the MMD.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Over the weekend Professor Clive Chirwa announced his decision to join opposition UPND-PF after quitting the ruling MMD. Below is his full statement.

REF: DECISION TO JOIN THE UPND

The resignation from MMD was a great relief and has opened up my route to joining Zambians who are serious about moving our people out of poverty for good. Based on the goals and policies for the regeneration of our country, I hereby decide to join the UPND in the struggle to liberate our people from the current inert government.

Yesterday afternoon the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UPND headed by President Hakainde Hichilema and I had a tele-conference meeting in which I opened up to them and gave them my reasons for joining their esteemed party. The UPND NEC welcomed me with open arms and the warmth they transmitted gave me great hope that at last I have joined a team that is committed to solving Zambia’s problems, a fundamental ethos of my campaign.

Today is a great day for me and my ambition to see Zambia occupy a place at the high table of international society where it dictates its future, where its people have ample food, good schools, best hospitals, best infrastructure and an economy magnetized by industrialization. That day is quickly approaching as UPND helps Zambia achieve that. The policies UPND is pursuing are right for Zambia and they are in keeping with what I have always said to my fellow Zambians in lectures, speeches and writings.

The pact between UPND-PF is strong and I joining them under the umbrella of UPND will strengthen it further. I believe my contributions to the pact will augment the already successful campaign strategy that is already bearing fruits. I believe the pact will scoop all nine provinces come 2011 and I am glad to be part of that.

May I therefore thank President Hakainde Hichilema and all the National Executive Committee members of UPND and assure them that I will do whatever is in my power to necessitate our victory in 2011.

May God Bless the UPND-PF pact.

Professor Efford CLIVE Mulubwa Kondwani CHIRWA