EXECUTIVE committee members of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) yesterday failed to reach consensus on whether the Vice-President should be a running mate.

Under the current constitution, upon winning an election, the President appoints the Vice-President.

A running mate entails that the election of the Vice-President shall be conducted at the same time as that of the President so that a vote cast for the presidential candidate is a cast vote for the Vice-President. The running mate is picked by a presidential candidate.

The committee, which is chaired by MMD national chairman, Michael Mabenga, failed to agree on whether or not to adopt the Mungomba draft constitution article 144 Clause Two which states that the Vice-President shall be elected as a running mate to a presidential candidate.

Article 45 Clause Two of the current constitution says the Vice-President must be appointed by the President from among members of the National Assembly.

In submitting his proposal in a heated debate, Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe said there was need for the President to adopt a Vice-President with whom he would be able to work without difficulties.

Mr Mukombwe noted that the country would make a mistake to have a Vice-President as a running mate as it would encourage competition among the two.

“We can not begin experimenting with American politics. The Americans have greater experience when it comes to politics of running mates.

“As Zambians, we need to continue with the trend where the President appoints his Vice-President who would obey him and not having a running mate who can bring about competition,” he said.

Swebby Macha, representing the Medical Association of Zambia, supported the motion to have a Vice-President as a running mate, adding that it would bring about job security in that office.

Dr Macha said the Vice-President should have enough security to make decisions without fear of being fired by the President.

“When the Vice-President is a running mate, he or she draws the mandate from the people and not the President, so that person is able to make independent decisions.

“I further support this motion because it will discourage bootlicking and will ensure continuity in the office of the President in case of the death of the sitting President,” he said.

Dr Macha said it would cost the country less resources in case of the death of a sitting President, as the Vice-President would take over office without being subjected to elections.

He said the country has had 13 Vice-Presidents since independence because their jobs were not secure as Presidents could fire them any time.

“We all know by now that the October elections cost Zambia K400 billion because currently, the system we have is that the Vice-President, who is appointed by the President, must be subjected to elections once the position of presidency is vacant,” he added.

Minister of Presidential Affairs, Gabriel Namulambe, said the country was not yet ready to have a Vice-President as a running mate.

“If we encourage the idea of running mate, we are going to do nothing but encourage intra-party conflicts. We lack trust for one another and so many things, such as witchcraft, would manifest because the Vice-President may aspire to be in the office of the President.

“As Zambians, we ought to be cautious with borrowed democracy because ours is static as opposed to other countries,” he said.

Pastor Peter Mulenga from the United Christian Action said there was nothing wrong with the country having a Vice-President as a running mate to the President and suggested that the article be amended to allow the President to choose his running mate.

“Running mate does not mean running enemy, and I propose that if some people are not comfortable with this, then let the President choose the running mate in order to bring about trust,” he said.

United Party for National Development vice-president, Richard Kapita, also supported the motion of a running mate, saying that there was need for the country to do away with the old system of the President appointing his Vice-President.

“The fact that the country has enjoyed peace since independence does not mean we should remain static with old politics. It’s time we started learning democracies of other countries and not remain backward,” he said.

Nchelenge constituency member of Parliament, Ben Mwila, said it would be dangerous for Zambia to have a Vice-President as a running mate to the President as it would split the nation.

“In the First Republic, we had problems because some Vice-Presidents where trying to become more powerful than the President, and that’s where regional politics originated from.

“Why should we have a running mate who would want to share power with the president?” he asked.
Senior Chief Nzamane of the Ngoni said the country needed to adopt a system of a running mate as it had many advantages.

“We need to transform as a country because change is inevitable and I, therefore, support the article to have a running mate,” he said.
The debate resumes today.

Earlier, the committee adopted Article 141 of the draft constitution which seeks to give the President powers in consultation with Cabinet to declare a national disaster, whether natural or man-made.

Meanwhile, MMD member Ludgwig Sondashi said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that he supported the proposal by the NCC to have ministers appointed from outside Parliament.

Dr Sondashi said he also supported the proposal to have 15 Cabinet ministers as it would reduce Government expenditure.

“Currently, the President can appoint any number of ministers he wants without any restraint from any quarter. As a result, we have a situation where three quarters of members of the ruling party are on the front bench.

“This is not only a drain on our resources but unnecessary for the efficient delivery of public services,” he said.

[Zambia Daily Mail ]

President Rupiah Banda has maintained that he will only take-over as MMD party president when the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party officially ratifies his appointment .

Speaking at the Lusaka International Airport shortly after arrival from South Africa where he had gone to attend an emergency SADC extra-ordinary summit, President Banda maintained that he was still not MMD party president until he was formally adopted and ratified by NEC and the Party.

President Banda said he was still not MMD party President contrary to some statements from some sections of the society.

He however stated that he was willing to offer himself as Party President.

He further assured people fighting for the MMD Party presidency not to panic as the matter was being handled by NEC and the Party.

President Banda was reacting to some remarks made by some MMD Presidential hopefuls that they will not recognize him as interim party President because the decision was made by a few NEC members.

ZANIS/TK/MKM/ENDS

Zambia’s Second Republican President Frederick Chiluba said that the funds which the MMD party raised from well-wishers and private sources were meant for his personal use as well as MMD party activities.

Dr Chiluba said this when he started this testimony today in the magistrate’s court in the case in which he is accused of plunder of national resources.

Dr. chiluba testified that he was advised by former Zambia Intelligence Security Services Director General Xavier Chungu that money raised from private sources by the MMD party be screened and kept in the intelligence account.

Dr. Chiluba said this was meant to facilitate transparency and accountability of such funds.

He  further told the court that it was Mr. Chungu’s sole responsibility to manage and administer the account as Director General.

The former president testified that it has now become a golden rule for all political party’s NOT to disclose their source of funding.

He said no political party in Zambia has ever disclosed its source of funding since independence.

Dr. Chiluba further testified that many governments the world over use the intelligence account for activities that may be deemed illegal.

Dr Chiluba is jointly charged with Defunct Access Financial Services Directors Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu.

The former president will appear before the magistrate’s court on Wednesday for continued trial.

Chief Government Spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha, says there is nothing scandalous in the appointment of individuals who have held political positions, as Permanent Secretaries.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha says the action is not wrong when such individuals have reliquished their political positions upon being appointed to the civil service.

General Shikapwasha was reacting to a statement by Patriotic Front Spokesperson, Given Lubinda, who is quoted in a daily tabloid as questioning President Rupiah Banda’s appointments of some permanent Secretaries.

Mr. Banda appointed new permanent Secretaries recently and retired some.

General Shikapwasha also disclosed that Science and Technology Minister,Peter Daka, who left for south-Africa for medical treatment on Friday is being treated as an out-patient and that he has under-gone tests.

He said doctors are yet to recommend whether Mr. Daka should be admitted to hospital or not.

And General Shikapwasha said Chief-Justice Ernest Sakala’s condition is improving.

Justice Sakala was evacuated to South-Africa last week for medical treatment after suffering from a heart condition.

General Shikapwasha also described the condition of Chief whip Vernon Mwaanga as improving.

Mr. Mwaanga is undergoing routine medical check-up in South Africa.

[ZNBC]

Morgan Tsvangirai led opposition Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, says the resolutions of the extraordinary Summit falls short of the party’s expectations.

The opposition MDC, said in a statement released in response to the SADC Communique that its expectation that the SADC processes would be above board in fairly judging the situation in Zimbabwe has not been met.

The party said its National Council will meet this weekend to decide on the issues and make its definite position known regarding the issue of forming a government of national unity.

“Quite clearly the conclusions reached as reflected in the Communique fall short of our expectations. Most importantly they are not in accord with our National Council resolutions of 14th of November 2008 and 12th of December 2008,” added the statement.

“It was our expectation that the SADC processes would be above board and be beyond reproach. Regrettably once again we note that Mr. Mugabe was allowed to sit in during the closed session of the plenary meetings. Thus again Mr Mugabe has been unfairly allowed to be a judge in his own cause,” read the MDC’s statement in part.

The opposition party expected the SADC extraordinary Summit to come up with, what it termed as, a ‘just resolution’ to outstanding issues in the interest of ordinary Zimbabwean people and concerned parties.

The extraordinary SADC Heads of State Summit which closed in Pretoria this morning has resolved that a government of national unity be put in place in Zimbabwe by February 13, 2009.

The extraordinary summit urged parties in Zimbabwe to cause that country’s Parliament to amend Article 19 of the Constitution to provide for the establishment of the position of Prime Minister.

According to a Communiqué released at the end of the Summit, read by SADC Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao, the Prime Minister designate, Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputies should be sworn in by February 11, 2009.

The extraordinary meeting also resolved that the allocation of ministerial portfolios endorsed by the SADC extraordinary Summit of November 9, 2008 should be reviewed Six months after the inauguration of the inclusive government.

“The parties shall endevour to cause Parliament to pass the Constitutional Amendment 19 by 5 February 2009,” read part of the Communique.

The meeting also resolved that the appointments of Reserve Bank Government and Attorney General would be dealt with by the inclusive government.

Zambia’s President, Rupiah Banda, was among the heads of state and governments that attended the 14 hour closed door meeting called to diffuse the political impasse in Zimbabwe.

Others in attendance were Botswana’s Ian Khama, Mozambique’s Armando Guebuza, Namibia’s Hifikepunye Pohamba, Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete and Swaziland’s King Mswati the third.

Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, and Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili as well as opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai were also in attendance.

ENDS/SJK/AM/ZANIS