Letter: How Zambia Can Avoid Presidential By-Election By Quiman Chavez Allow me space on your page to also air out my proposal on how our beloved country can avoid the upcoming presidential by-election. Condolences are in order to the great people of this Republic on the loss of our president His Excellency Michael Chilufya Sata. MHRIP. Not withstanding the proposal by Eros Ilunga, I also lay the following option on the table as food for thought to the general citizenery: First of all let me point out my reasons why this by-election must be avoided: 1. Currently as it stands, the country is likely to have three elections namely, the upcoming presidential by-election, the referendum on the constitution as well as the 2016 tripatite elections. To use my friend’s words ‘ unlesss it rains Kwachas and Dollars”, Zambia cannot afford the huge costs involved in fulfilling this constitutional obligation. 2. Should another party be voted into power, huge sums of money will be spent on the transitional processes of the Ministers, Deputy Ministers, District commissioners, should I say all the offices whose bearers are appointed by the president, as the each president has his/her own people to work with. 3.The by-election may also bring about unnecessary delayment in the enaction of the new constitution which we so much need before the 2016 general elections. 4.The by-election will result in a budget overrun which may cripple most of the on-going developmental projects. 5. The by-election will also have a bearing on the financial standing of the political parties as they will have difficulties in planning for two elections in a space of less than two years. This may lead to political parties finding desperate ways of sourcing funds by attracting donors with ill intentions on the Zambian people. 6. Needless to say the political instability due to the succession wrangles of the ruling party. In addition to Eros Ilunga’s proposal, I propose that the National Assembly pass a special vote that: All the political parties be in agreement to elect a neutral person with no political affiliation, to be the care taker president up to 2016 general elections who shall perfom all the duties of the president except the ruling party matters. To ensure objectivity and unbiaseness from this person, he shall be barred from standing for office in 2016 general elections so as he/she does not use the position to his advantage. This care-taker president shall be charged with the responsibility of enacting the new constitution before 2016 general elections as well as lead the country to the end of the current term of office. The president shall be seconded by a vice president from the ruling Patriotic Front party which shall continue to form government. The vice president shall be the leader of the ruling party charged with the responsibilty of over-seeing all the interests of the party as the party in government. In conclusion, allow me to remind all Zambians that the Constitution is made for the good of Zambians and not Zambia for the good of the constitution. What good will it be following what the constitution demands when by following it it will leave us in unbearable debts and financial afflictions? zambiareports/2014/11/03/letter-zambia-can-avoid-presidential-election/
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:17:04 +0000
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