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 ]
