- SERIES 1: IMPEACHMENT MOTION: President Lungu To Be Impeached For Debt Which Parliament Approved
- SERIES 2: IMPEACHMENT MOTION – Did Government break financial regulations and the law on the monies from Mukula logs?
- SERIES 3: IMPEACHMENT MOTION – Is The Frustrated Fire Tender Petition a Basis for Members of Parliament to impeach the President?
By Isaac Mwanza
Shortly before the South African Parliament was to pass a motion of no confidence in President Zuma, Opposition Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) begun calls for Parliament to be dissolved and fresh elections held before a new president of the country is elected.
EFF leader Julius Malema stated, “Once we remove Zuma, Parliament must be dissolved. The Constitutional Court made a ruling that Parliament failed to discharge its responsibility when it couldn’t protect the Public Protector, including holding the president accountable”
The Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said they were calling for early elections because the ruling party is holding the country to ransom while the African Christian Democratic Party leader Reverend Kenneth Meshoe says this is not about just Zuma: “As a collective, we’re saying the man (Zuma) is not the only problem. The proof is that with all the motions of no confidence and having stated why we want President Jacob Zuma to step down, the ANC Members of Parliament defended and protected him.”
Zambia has launched an impeachment motion, similar to South Africa’s motion of no confidence, except the allegations made against the President of Zambia are mainly about the collective decisions made the Cabinet while other grounds are matters before the Court.
Some of the allegations made against the President of Zambia include procurement of debt, presidential undertaking of foreign trips when money could have been spent on hospitals or health facilities and procurement of debt. The other grounds which are also matters the United Party for National Development (UPND) leaders Hakainde Hichilema, Godfrey Bwalya Mwamba and Heritage Party Leader Brigadier General Miyanda has taken to court involve the question whether President Lungu should have handed over power to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Patrick Matibini, and President Lungu’s remarks on the eligibility case, respectively.
UNPACKAGING THE GROUNDS
1. Allegation on procurement of public debt
The particulars of the allegation on this matter is contained in 2.
2.2.2: The President conducted himself in a manner which brought the office of the President in disrepute, ridicule and/or contempt by procuring public debt which is beyond the capacity of the Nation to sustain contrary to provisions of Article 198 (c) of the Constitution.
Article 198(c) reads:
“The guiding principles of public finance include the following sustainable public borrowing to ensure inter-generational equity”
The relevant provisions of the Constitution of Zambia, Chapter 1 of the Laws of Zambia are Articles 63(2)(d), Article 114 (1)(e) and Article 65(2)(e) which read, in this same order, as follows:
“Article 63(2)(d)
The National Assembly shall oversee the performance of executive functions by approving public debt before it is contracted”
“Article 114 (1)(e)
“The functions of Cabinet are as follows recommend, for approval of the National Assembly loans to be contracted by the State; and guarantees on loans contracted by State institutions or other institutions.”“Article 65(2)(e)
A Money Bill means a Bill that provides for, among other matters the raising or guaranteeing of a loan or the repayment of it”
The ground raises the question on what role did the President play in debt contraction? Did Parliament discharge its mandate under Article 63(2)(d) or it failed such that if it was in South Africa, Julius Malema, would say ‘Parliament must be dissolved because it failed to discharge its responsibility including holding the President accountable in contracting public debt’? Did the Minister of Finance, through the Bill on National Budget, seek Parliamentary approval of the debt to be contracted? Did Parliament collectively approve the Budget?
If South Africa’s ACD leader Meshoe was a Member of the Zambian Parliament, wouldn’t he have said, ‘As a collective, we’re saying the man (Lungu) is not the only problem,… the PF Members of Parliament defended and protected President Lungu’s borrowing by approving the Budget’?
CONCLUSION
If President Lungu is to be impeached for contracting a public debt, Parliament should consider a motion to dissolve itself for approving the Money Bill that outlined how much Government was allowed to borrow. Secondly, this ground is a way of putting the 41 Cabinet and Provincial Ministers on trial who recommend, for approval of the National Assembly loans to be contracted by the State.
As President Lungu does not get directly involved in procurement of debt except chairing Cabinet, the ground is a way of putting the ruling Patriotic Front on trial for the many debts that it has contracted. The success of the ground on debt contraction will simply confirm that the ruling Patriotic Front has failed to govern. In an event that this ground succeeds and two-thirds of Members of Parliament vote to impeach President Lungu based on the debt Parliament approved, to quote Julius Malema, ‘the problem will be the PF, and the people of Zambia must be given a chance to vote for their next leader.’
yaba..where did this chap do his law..shameless liar..regulate some of these colleges..
Tanzania’s Magufuli rival charged with rebellion
Tanzania has charged the leader of a major opposition party and five party members with inciting hatred and rebellion against the government.
The case comes as critics accuse President John Magufuli of being intolerant of dissent in the East African nation.
My comment: Democracy is not the tolerance of insanity ruling PF is condoning from Hichilema period.
What is this Issac Mwanza, what went wrong with these Issac & Antonio Mwanza to extent of eating born marrow from Edgar’s left overs.
I always tell my nephew that teachers are needed everywhere in this world. And its a noble trade.
Antonio & Issac Mwanza just go and become primary school teachers, it’s good trade.
I didn’t insult anyone, why are you moderating my comments?
I will sue the hell out of you one day. I have a mission here.
Anyway, I will not sue anybody, just publish my comments, they help you all.
This Isaac Mwanza is a clown. Very useless. WE WANT LUNGU OUT BUT PF will be in GOVERNMENT under the leadership of Inonge Wina.
SA and CONSITTUTIONS ARE DIFFERENT period NOT what you want to cheat the Public.
You guys BOASTED that u ve NUMBERS …..whts a problem NOW?
Isn’t Edgar Lungu the CEO? Yes, he must be impeached.
Its total rubbish or nonsense. Poor analysis of issues by that mmd.
You have sub title “UNPACKAGING THE GROUNDS” but only give one allegation and swiftly type a conclusion…really laughable…where you running out of internet bundle.
An incomplete article by Isaac Mwanza. He should have looked at the other grounds for impeachment, as he promised to. Otherwise, if this was an undergraduate assignment, it would be graded as C
Copy Cat Foo.ls. Can’t even come up with an original impeachment plea.
I agree with you.
I am not hitting on you @ Nubian, walinkana kale.
Nostradamus, mfwaya nakabili. Where’s your fighting spirit. What is your manifesto?
I will jump the queue with a ‘pro-poor manifesto’ to you like Sata’s PF did to the poor Zambians which was only to be ripped to shreds by Lungu’s PF? Ha ha ha ha. Sorry UNZA moma this is no place for such manifestos, try ‘Chita banging’ magazine, for UNZA circulation only!
The author of the article started while by discussing ideas then went off tangent by jumping to a silly conclusion that ECL should be impeached.
The author is obviously a UPND cadre
so!
PLEASE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA, ZAMBIA IS NOT SOUTH AFRICA AND SOUTH AFRICA IS NOT ZAMBIA.
BE ORIGINAL AND DON’T JUST COPY WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES ARE DOING. WE SHOULD COUNT OURSELVES LUCKY BECAUSE OUR PRESIDENT IS TOLERANT . WE SHOULDN’T TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED. MWIMONA INSOFU NAIPWALALA ATI NANDE NSHIMBA. DON’T TAKE THE PRESIDENT’S QUIETNESS TO BE HIS WEAKNESS. WE SHOULD RESPECT PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY. ECL DID NOT IMPEACH ANYONE TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA BUT RATHER WENT THROUGH A DUE PROCESS.
@ general. tolerance will not feed us nor pay the heavy taxes imposed on the majority of Zambians We hear of cases of corruption by the very people that are very close to the president, does he act on it? NO. fire tenders and ambulances at inflated prices, works at inflated prices. Surely as Zambians we are watching the Chinese take over our country putting foreigners in our sensitive security places Avic buying shares here and there and you want us to just sit back and say things are ok? WHO IS GOING TO PAY BACK THE EURO BOND YOU ME ALL ZAMBIANS INCLUDING OUR CHILDREN. Where has the money gone for the roads? We suffer greatly driving on roads with deep pot holes risking our lives, driving like snakes when money was there for roads. We that are suffering are sick and tired of this. never…
General no country with a lot of respect (umuchinshi)has developed.Making some one accountable is a way of curbing recklessness ,people like you think being a kateka is a holiday and the person becomes a god.Worst thing is fake preacher’s that misinterpret the bible just to get favour from the ruling class are the ones bringing a curse upon our motherland.imagine mongorels like rev pukuta, pule falling on top of each other and shouting on top of their voices that jona is the chosen one “how”! when the beerhall has always been his domain.
GENERAL, You just want Lungu to continue. We original PF MPs yaba Data want him to be impeached.
We are not lucky because Lungu is tolerant……….we are GOD’s children and GOD keeps us from danger… whether Lungu is impeached or not who cares….. Lungu has and will never buy me and my family food…………..Sata died and Mwanawasa died , Zambia continues……………… even someone from chawama wont make a different………….
When the ship hits an iceberg or runs into another ship it is always the ship captain to blame.When a corporation misses sales targets its the CEO to blame.Now what were you absolving Lungu for again?
If you have impeached the president who is going to be president who is going to allow the street vendors back to the street cause iam not seeing any presidential material from the opposition and if the guys have money why are their want to stand let them eat their money and leave presidency to people like eck why impeachment nindalama shenu bombeshenifye bane were did they get the money to be the first in Zambia.
Kennedy when the president is impeached it will be the vice madame Wina that will take over.
HH is a clown and does not have sound legal minds. Even his supporters are dull. Surely, how do u impeach some for debt u approved. Kabimba was right. UPND uses tribe to think and not brains
Ndiye kusabaila uku a Mwanza. Mwayamba Kusabaila. Nichinji?
THERE IS NOTHING IN THE ARTICLE BEING PROPERGASTED. THIS IS A UPND CADRE WHO HAS RUN OUT OF TACTICS TO CONVINCE PEOPLE. VIVA ECL
Zambia, we need a better opposition, these UPND people are clowns. PF was a better opposition to MMD than these people shall ever be.
This just goes to show the caliber of the opposition parties we have in Zambia. Desperate for power at all costs. If Zambians give these chaps an inch, we will all pay a price for generations to come. I’m not a fun of Lungu but I’d pick him any time any day over these vultures.
Whether Lungu goes or not, there will be no difference cause Madam Inonge will take over until 2021. UPND will be frustrated further cause their life president HH have to wait for 2021 since he is not Lungu’s running mate. Just find a way of accepting that this term is for PF. Five years is not eternity.
I will make it my mission to frustrate the UP and Downers even further by voting for PF again just for the hell of it.
Our party next!!!
Comment:ec lungu is increasingly becoming a threat to the upnd family especially the MPs and their wamuyaya dictator HH.come 2021its lungu nafutinafuti.