Tempers flared at the Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID) regional workshop on the constitution making process in Kasama over the weekend after participants openly differed on the inclusion of age limit for presidency in the new republican constitution.

The members from both the ruling MMD and oppositions political parties exchange unpalatable words after they failed to agree on whether the new constitution should have a clause on age limit for presidency or not.

Some MMD members, who led proponents for the age limit, maintained that there was need for a maximum age limit to be enshrined the new constitution for someone to be republican president.

They suggested that 70 years be the age limit for a presidential candidate to aspire for the highest office in the land saying Zambia needed vibrant person to run the country.

However, the proposal sparked controversy among participants who accused the MMD of targeting an individual in their quest to have an age limit included in the new constitution.

The opponents who included mostly Patriotic Front (PF) members argued that putting an age limit in the constitution would be discriminatory to elderly people who wanted to aspire for presidency.

The PF members, who were emotionally charged, threatened to walk out the ZCID workshop if the meeting failed to reach a consensus on the issue of age limit.

This forced ZCID officials, who included Sharon Phiri and Lillian Pumulo, to put the issue of age limit for presidency to a vote after their efforts to calm the participants over the issue failed.

The vote however went in favour of those against the inclusion of an age limit in the new constitution thereby sending the PF members into wild celebrations.

THE Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has expressed happiness at the outcome of the just-ended Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government Summit.

MDC director – information and publicity, Luke Timdorinyoka, said the party was happy with the contents of the communiqué, although more could have been done.

Mr Timdorinyoka said that MDC was particularly happy that the Summit had urged the ZEC to expeditiously release the results, as that was the main bone of contention.

He was, however, quick to point out that the Summit could have done better.

Mr Timdorinyoka said the Summit could have deliberated the need to discard what he termed “silent diplomacy” by South African President, Thabo Mbeki.

He said the fact that President Mbeki had been retained as a facilitator for Zimbabwe indicated that other leaders agreed with him on his diplomatic style.

“Time for silent diplomacy is long gone and people now have to speak out and do so loudly,” he said.

On the way forward, Mr Timdorinyoka said the MDC would peacefully await the implementation of the SADC resolutions by the ZEC, saying the announcement of the presidential election results was key.

Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president, Rueben Lifuka, commended President Mwanawasa for convening the Summit to address the elections impasse in Zimbabwe.

He, however, said the outcome of the SADC Extraordinary meeting fell short of expectations.

Mr Lifuka reminded the SADC Heads of State of the importance of carrying the hopes and aspirations of millions of Zimbabweans who desired a better future for themselves.

He said that it was public expectation that SADC Heads of State would pass the test of credibility and help restore pride in the people of Zimbabwe and Africa by the quality of their decision.
Times of Zambia

A traditional ruler in Mazabuka has advised newly appointed Southern Province Minister, Daniel Munkombwe to serve the people in the Province without any Political biasness if development programmes in the area are to succeed.

Chief Mwanachingwala told Mr Munkombwe during a public meeting held at his palace today that he is a leader of all the people of Southern Province including those from the opposition political parties.

He also advised Mr Munkombwe not to abuse his appointment but ensure he delivers development to all corners of the province.

The Chief further advised the Minister to desist from being emotional but embrace even those that criticize his administration.

Meanwhile, Chief Mwanachingwala has commended President Mwanawasa for appointing Mr Munkombwe as provincial minister.

He said what has excited the traditional ruler is the fact that, the President endorsed the concerns they raised by Chiefs over the appointment of non-Tonga speaking Ministers in the province.

Chief Mwanachingwala also challenged those that were criticising President Mwanawasa for appointing non-Tonga speaking Ministers to come out in the open and support Mr Munkombwe.

He said it is wrong to criticise and fail to appreciate when your concerns have been addressed.

And in responding to the Chief’s advice, Mr Munkombwe commended the Chief for being courageous in advising him.

Mr Munkombwe said since he began his tour, non of the Chiefs has ever taken trouble to advise him without fear.

He promised to work with everybody including the opposition party.

The Minister however said he will differ with the opposition should they frustrate government programmes or insult President Mwanawasa.

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) extraordinary Summit ended in Lusaka this morning with a call to the electoral authorities in Zimbabwe that the verification and release of the March 29 election results be expeditiously done in accordance with the law.

The Summit also urged all the parties in the electoral process in Zimbabwe to accept the results when they are announced.

In a communiqué issued after a 13- hour- closed door session chaired by President Mwanawasa and attended by seven other Heads of State and Government delegations from the 14-member regional grouping, the Summit said that the verification and counting of the votes must be done in the presence of the candidates or their agents who must all sign the authenticity of such verification and counting.

Reading the Communique in the early hours of this morning before an anxious horde of Journalists, SADC Executive Secretary Dr Tomaz Salomao said the regional body has also offered to send its election observer mission to Zimbabwe which will be present throughout the verification and counting of votes.

In the event of the verification and counting of votes makes it necessary for the parties to go for a second round of elections, the government of Zimbabwe has been urged to ensure that the runoff are held in a secure environment.

He also said the Summit appealed to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to ensure strict compliance with the rule of law and SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections.

Dr Salomao also disclosed that the Summit has also requested South African President Thabo Mbeki to continue his role as a mediator on Zimbabwe on outstanding issues.

SADC member States at the Summit, with the exception of Zimbabwe, held informal consultations with presidential candidates Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Independent candidate Dr Simba Makoni.

Dr Salomao said both opposition leaders confirmed that the elections were held in a free, fair and peaceful environment.

However, the two candidates expressed concern on the delay in announcing the results as well as lack of their participation in the verification process of the presidential results currently being conducted by the ZEC.

Presidential election results in Zimbabwe have not been announced 15 days after the elections were held. MDC have since lodged an appeal in the High Court to compel ZEC to release the results.

And later answering questions from journalists, Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande who is also Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers said that according to the reports from both the government and opposition representatives at the Summit, the elections were conducted in a free and fair atmosphere.

Mr Pande said both parties told the Summit that there was no crisis in Zimbabwe but that their bone of contention was delayed announcement of the presidential election results.

He said the Summit was confident that the resolutions would help in finding a lasting solution to the current impasse in Zimbabwe.

And in a Press Briefing soon after the release of the Communique, MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti welcomed the efforts of the SADC in resolving the post election impasse in Zimbabwe.

Mr Biti said the regional leaders had sent a clear message to the Zimbabwean government on their concerns surrounding the delay in the announcement in the presidential results, the rule of law, violence and militarisation.

He welcomed the renewed mandate of Mr Mbeki’s mediatory role in Zimbabwe but urged the regional body to break the quiet diplomacy approach as this would not help the situation in that country.

Mr Biti said the South African leader should deal with the situation with more vigour during his extended mediatory mandate.

The MDC Secretary General said that the party welcomed the outcome of the Summit but felt that fundamental concerns such as violence, intimidation, and militarised situation were still outstanding and described the situation in Zimbabwe as tense.

The Summit was attended by eight Heads of State namely South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki, Edwardo Dos Santos of Angola, Mozambique’s Armando Guebuza, Malawi’s Mbingu Wa Mutharika and Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Others are Namibia’s Hifikepunye Pohamba, Ian Khama of Botswana and host President who is also SADC Chairman Levy Mwanawasa.

Other countries which were represented at either ministerial or ambassadorial level included Lesotho, Mauritius, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Madagascar.

The SADC extraordinary Summit was convened to identify ways and means of assisting Zimbabweans in finding a solution acceptable to them and all parties involved in the recent elections.

The SADC intervention was anchored on its pursuit of two objectives namely to promote common political values, systems and other shared values which are transmitted through institutions that are democratic, legitimate and effective.

The intervention was also premised on the need to consolidate, defend and maintain democracy, peace, security and stability.

Earlier, during the official opening, President Mwanawasa appealed to the ruling and opposition party leaders in Zimbabwe to embrace the virtue of humility in charting the future of their beloved country that they rightly reclaimed from the colonial masters after a long and bloody liberation war.

President said the extraordinary Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Summit is not intended to put Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on trial over the current political situation in that country.

Dr Mwanawasa who is also SADC Chairperson said SADC can not continue to standby and do nothing when one of its members was experiencing political and economic difficult.
ZANIS/MK/CLM/BK