By Daimone Siulapwa
WITH the recent expulsion of former finance minister Ng’andu Magande and ex-defence minister George Mpombo, it means the country will be going for by-elections, should the Speaker of the National Assembly Amuusa Mwanamwambwa declare the seats vacant.
The two by-elections in Chilanga and Kafulafuta will be in addition to the one in Mpulungu, which occurred as a result of the death of area member of Parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo. In the likely event of GBM resigning again under pressure, this will mean another by-election in Kasama.
Well, in case you have forgotten, the country has just returned from two by-elections in Luena, triggered by the resignation of the area MP Charles Milupi, who decided he was better being an MP on the alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) than be an Independent. The other by-election was in Chifubu, which was n unfortunate to lose its MP Jacob Chongo
Before that there were two other by elections in Mufumbwe and Milanzi. Other by-elections in recent times include Solwezi Central, Chitambo and Kasama Central.
And of course the biggest of them all was the presidential by-election, which involved more whose total cost is estimated to have been around K250 billion ( USD 50 Million, equivalent to the loan we received from China to buy Mobil Clinics). A staggering amount if you ask me.
While I do not know the cost of one Parliamentary by-election, I believe the cost is still astronomical. My poor calculation tells me, the cost of every by-election costs our people one complete school or a small clinic somewhere. Do not forget that there are also local government by-elections.
And before you forget, should Major Robbie Chizyuka and Jonas Shakafuswa lose their cases in court, then two further by-elections are supposed to be held. That is in addition to those 20-something PF rebel MPs, If Mr.Sata gets his way and gets rid of them, its trouble for mother Zambia.
And that is where my major concern is.
If indeed this country is in hurry to develop, why are we wasting these precious resources on these meaningless by-elections. Imagine how many clinics or schools K250 billion that was used for the presidential by-election would have been able to build in some needy areas of this country.
Announcing the expulsion of Mpombo and Magande from the ruling party, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), Dora Siliya’s the party’s spokesperson, justified the move, and in effect the by-election.
She said something to the effect that although the party is aware of the costs of having a by-election, it had no choice but to expel the duo because of showing gross indiscipline to the party leadership.
In other words, these by-elections have been caused solely because some members of a club have differed among themselves.
And this has been the major cause of by-elections in Zambia. A few cases have been a result of death, but mostly its expulsions and defections. Surely, our politicians and our politics can do better than this. Why do they transfer the cost of their differences to the taxpayer? Are these the people interested in moving the nation forward.
Does it mean that if you differ with someone, then they have to be expelled? In fact, most of those expelled are a result of expressing their constitutional rights, which have to do with airing their views without fear or favour. When you look at the cases involving all the expulsions witnessed in recent times that is the case.
So, what is the solution to all this. Internal democracy within parties. And please underline the words internal democracy. Most of our political parties are deficient when it comes to that area. We have seen cases where, in the United States, some Republicans have voted with the Democrats without any repercussions whatsoever. Also in Britain, we saw some Labour MP’s openly differing with Gordon Brown prior to the elections there. But they never faced any recriminations whatsoever. After all, it is their right to disagree where they do not agree.
But beyond that, we need to have a robust electoral system, which can deal with these unnecessary by-elections that our selfish politicians have been deliberately creating. And that is the job one hopes the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) should have been able to deal with. Did they deal with it effectively?
We should not give the excuse of democracy being expensive, and that by-elections are some of the costs we have to incur for having chosen democracy as a system. For these are really foolish costs, and they have no place in this poor country’s books.
Good article.
Its a good idea probably need to be constitutional
Hell yeah.This is just a party gimmick keeping democracy and dissent within the party at bay.Why should taxpayers pay for lack of internal democracy if freedom of speech is enshrigned in the constitution?.Is this not against the constitution?Charge MMD for the election.
Your question has no constitutional caveat to fall on until its done, its just another good idea no legislature would vote for it. I hasten to say to avoid bye-elections we should constitutionalize an act that in event of a seating candidate losing his seat, the second candidate in the election that delivered the seat should be given the seat if he passes all state security clearance instead of going for bye-elections.
What do other similar democracies do? Im ignorant about this but if someone can shed light on how the constitutions of countries like Kenya, Ghana, Botswana or India address this issue it gives us some direction of what Zambia should aspire to. Whereas some of the bye-elections are definitly un-necssary, the one caused by resignations, expulsions etc, I think we also have an alarmingly high death rate amoung our MPs. Considering that these are some of the most privaledged members of our society it is strange that they are caught up in avoidable death resulting from heath issues, road accidents etc. It is indicitive of how volative our country is. The common man surely is exposed to even great risks in Zambia
We should not run away from the fact that democracy is expensive. Democracy in itself is not at fault. What are at fault are individual or private Party Constitutions. It like the guide lines fall short of how to select a candidate who understands and believes in the Party Manifesto and well-being of the Zambian citizenry. Whenever there is an election every zambian packs the constitution while political parties throw their manifesto in dust bins and begin playing to the gallery. In short democracy tends to be expensive and will continue to be unless we change our mindset towards politics. Meaning our stupidity makes democracy expensive. I cant buy anything else.
#6 Wrong you couldn’t be more Right.Good analysis .Zambians need a attitude change.Indeed our stupidity is making our democracy expensive. In the mean time let those political parties who cause by elections willy nilly pay a huge fine to cover 70% of the cost.That way they will think twice before they hire and fire!
you people the problem is not by elections/money. well we need them but the problem is internal democracy of political parties which do not allow intra academic arguments/differences. the article well gave example of US and britain. for instance if i have a different view with my party maybe in parliament does it mean am unpatriotic? Never.
well no 7, pliz we dont need to go that far.by the way ruling party will smile with that coze they have unlimited access to the money pazed. whats better to stay outside (resign) so as to debate freely issues or stay in the party where you are not allowed to have a different view you simply bow to everything said????????
Well Politics is not viewed by some people (like GMB) as a service but a money-making venture, ‘which never was in his case’. Why has GMB suddenly realized that his business has suffered as a result of involvement in politics now? Charging political parties money for by-elections may not be a solutions because this would breed underhand deals to keep erring MP to save money for the parties. People should just use their judgments to vote in suitable candidates and kick out useless adopted ones, that’s what politics is about. GMB is unsuitable for politics and his emotional state is testimony to this. A rushy decision lead to battering his wife followed by a rushy decision of resigning as MP. I wonder how he made his money with such emotions, maybe he is just a thief!
Irrational man,
You are indeed an Irrational man. Say you what of US Democrats’s spirited moves against Senator Joseph Lieberman, current chairman of the Homeland Security and … toward removing Lieberman as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security for his support for Republicans?
Irrational man, Say you what?
Joseph Lieberman’s Committee Chair In Jeopardy
Senator Joseph Lieberman, current chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee looks like the first to go in the takeover of straight ticket Democrats. Even new Chief of Staff select has publically denounced the fellow Jew.
With no room for diversity or moderate viewpoints, the takeover has begun and it looks like Joseph Lieberman is set for political execution.
As an Independent who tends to vote Democrat in social arenas, with the exception of the “split” votes over Iraq, the current top committee chair may be on the way out following yesterday’s meeting with Majority Leader, Harry Reid.
In a CBS report that explained Reid’s ire towards Lieberman and his lack of loyalty to the Democratic Party, the former Democrat is taking some time to “think” about Reid’s harsh statements:
Reid, in a sternly worded statement after the 45-minute meeting, said no official decisions have been made. But an aide to the Nevada Democrat said Reid was leaning toward removing Lieberman as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were confidential.
Harry Reid also was quoted as saying “While I understand that Sen. Lieberman has voted with Democrats a majority of the time, his comments and actions have raised serious concerns among many in our caucus,” alluding to Lieberman’s lack of total partisan loyalty.
Joe Lieberman was Democrat Al Gore’s VP running mate when he initially lost to George Bush, Jr. In 2006, Lieberman ran as an Independent in Connecticut for the Senate and won, beating out both the Democrat and Republican candidates.
He is still registered as a Dem and votes on the majority of issues as a Democrat, despite his friendship with John McCain, a liberal Republican. During McCain’s Presidential campaign, he had considered Lieberman as his running mate, but chose Palin instead. Lieberman did give a speech at the GOP’s convention on McCain’s behalf. A speech that irked partisan supporters of Barack Obama.
Reid’s unconfirmed decision to oust Lieberman must have Democratic caucus support and if it does pass, the Republicans have said they will welcome the Independent to their side. Lieberman’s support has been a 51 to 49 vote but now that the Senate has morphed to a 55 seat strong hold of Democrats, that support may have waned.
Lieberman’s ousting was part of the prediction “IF” the Democrats took over, as discussed in The Hill back in October. Loyalty to the party will be a key element in what may be viewed as a hostile takeover of the government.
With Obama’s current selection of Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, whose father was allegedly part of a terror group in the late 40s, and who is known for his Chicago style partisan politics and for “hurting” others in the process, with harsh language and intimidation, as well as his heavy reliance upon Bill Clinton’s opinions,civil decisions may be long gone. This decision has earned Obama much support from Israel.
In August, the media reported Rahm Emanuel’s disgust over Lieberman in a statement:
Endorsing McCain was one thing, Emanuel said, but accepting a hero’s welcome in the belly of the GOP beast is “something different.”
Emanuel is also at the seat of several controversies, according to Wiki’s sources :
Emanuel held a seat on the quasi-governmental Freddie Mac board, which paid him $231,655 in director’s fees in 2001 and $31,060 in 2000. During the time Emanuel spent on the board, Freddie Mac was plagued with scandal involving campaign contributions and accounting irregularities.[
Good article and to add on, the solution is Simple let the expelling party foot 50% of the bill failure to which they do not get to recontest the same seat.
# 8 Irrational man say you what?
Why not just adopt the person who came out second during the previous bye elections. This would instill discipline and gear the MP’s to perform as they do not want the candidate who came out second to take their places. This would also save Zambians money. God bless Zambia and every Zambian.
Nice article,Daimone kanshi walikwata sana amano mune.Indeeed a lot of tax payers money has had been used on these by-elections which in most cases have had been caused by selfishness, if the luena example is anything to go by.I also think it is high time we came up with such proposals to deter some of these chaps to stop causing the unnecessary by elections.:-?
Democracy is not cheap. We never heard of so many bye-elections, defections, suspensions and so on in the UNIP era. The problem really is not bye elections, the problem is the ‘persons’ whom we elect. 1. Health. Almost any job I know of, people undergo medical check up before they are engaged. Why don’t we do the same for politicians. We must know the exact health status of the people we are going to stress with the burden of running the nation. Nigeria elected a sick man, and look what happened. We have had too many bye elections due to deaths and not resignations. 2. Intergrity. People should stick to their principles and ideologies. You cannot be MMD in the morning and PF in the evening.
i still insist categorically by-elections are necessary and there is no need for the party to foot part of the bill. if anything already parties spend more on campaigns. by the way do you mean they pay the ECZ?? pilz save us lord.
oh my God, how come i do not understand your language democrat?
the saint/no 24 is almost right.the the main problem is the party and not the individual. your talk of integrity is correct thats why one does not need to remain where his/her principles/ideologies is a crime. infact with state of affirs in our zambian party-politics we should be having by elections every month. if anything a good leader if messes up the noble thing to do is to resign – we can never avoid by elections i f we want good democracy.mo taim, democract, jojo, ponyax -need conversion
no 22, analyst. you speak so well but that sounds too christian-ism. we dont need to play it safe. perhaps 100 years ago it could, pliz dont take us back. that one never in my lifes time.
H.E MC SATA was this afternoon welcomed by millions if nt billions of people in CHOMA-southern province. VIVA PF………………..
The question me by-elections brings me to the reason why Cabinet Ministers must be chosen outside parliament. It is easier and cheaper for the nation for them to resign over mistakes or maladministration happening in a single ministry without affecting The Law Makers, Party structures nor shame to the ruling Party. Such a move will bring integrity and dedication with the aim to deliver for the sake of the Zambian citizenry and not one cadre in plot one.
The question of by-elections brings me to the reason why Cabinet Ministers must be chosen outside parliament. It is easier and cheaper for the nation for them to resign over mistakes or maladministration happening in their ministry without affecting The Law Makers, Party structures nor shame to the ruling Party. Such a move will bring integrity and dedication with the aim to deliver for the sake of the Zambian citizenry and not for one cadre living and staying at plot one.
aBSOLUTELY
Ba Democrat you are missing a point here, which is that the trend in Zambia leans significantly more towards voting for a party rather than an individual. Lieberman represents a people who agree with his values or views and thus whether or not majority of democrats agree entirely with his views, he has a significant obligation to represent the people that elected him. Secondly, the timing is such that the democrats will wait for an opportune time and planned for election to try to usher in a candidate that is more liberal, which again is very different from expelling him from the party midterm because his views differ from his President’s. Lastly, the US do enjoy a luxury that we do not in how they can afford to prioritize, I mean you do not see us spending billions on flying to the moon
Where there is a suspension from a Political. The Members of the constituency should decide who should represent them in parliament, with accountability until time of the next general election. This can be handled by the board at District council level if not influenced by politicians.
This should apply in case of death or sickness and would reduce the cost associated with By-Elections. The only drawback is that councils are so much influenced by ruling parties and would not be fair in handling such matters. Another alternative would be to have an independent board that would interview potential candidates for a selection process. Cost of a parliamentary by election is about ZMK50 Billion which can be used to develop these communities.
# 29,Please don’t paste this nonsense on every story.You are starting to irritate me with your nonsense.
Cant you see we are trying to discuss development here?