The Governance, Elections, Advocacy, Research Services says it is unfortunate that the government has not listened fully to the demands of the people but only attempted to listen in Bill 10 under the Gazette Notice published on 12 June, 2020.
GEARS Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi says other than the Bill 10 objects remaining the same and the numerous typos in the regazetted amendments; it contains only about 5 changes to the contentious issues.
Mr Chipenzi says these include removal of a coalition government, removal of the 3 year term for an inheritor of a presidential term, retention of 14 days to hear and determine a presidential petition, retention of parliamentary approval to contraction of loans, agreements, contracts and treaties and retention of a clause on retirees to remain on payroll until paid their dues.
He said the rest remains the same way they are presented in the original Bill 10 such as public officers to resign 2 years before an election when they want to participate in elective politics; ministers to remain in office until the next general election; president to create, divide a province without parliament approval as prescribed.
Mr Chipenzi said others include the composition of Parliament to be relegated to subsidiary legislation to be determined by a party with majority in Parliament; parliament never to dissolve on its own as is provided currently under Art 81(3);
“The mayors/chairpersons and their deputies to be elected by their fellow Councilors and their term of office reduced, for mayors/chairpersons, to 21/2 years; chiefs to be recognised either by custom, tradition and culture or by the President (confusion in the making”, said Mr Chipenzi.
He said Ministers and members of parliament to be back into councils as Councilors; bloated government still retained with the inclusion of deputy ministers, provincial ministers, Chief whip of the ruling party.
Mr Chipenzi noted that the President has been empowered to effect appointment despite parliament refusal or delay to ratify the nominee and the constitutional directive for the President to refer such a refusal or delay to Constitutional Court deleted.
“The definition of a chief now includes those chiefs only recognised by government and not custom, culture and traditions, and above all, Article 52 remains repealed that empowers individuals to petition the lodgment of a petition against unqualified candidate after nominations, among many undemocratic articles”, he added.
He said in essence, the regazetted amendments/changes have changed nothing to the Bill to say the least.
Mr Chipenzi said withdrawing is the answer if truly this government means well on this Bill 10 saying Zambians can’t continue with this drama, fiasco and chaos associated with the Bill 10 which is embarrassing.
Chipenzi u wasting our time now. Government has removed Deputy Ministers and Coalition Govt and maintained oversight, plus also the civil servants remaining on salary. That’s all that we were opposed to. Laws are not about listening to u on all demands!
The Original Bill 10 of 2019 is on the Floor in Parliament and is now going thru the Second Reading. The Bill is now due to be subjected to a 2/3 majority vote. If the Bill is passed by a 2/3 majority vote then it will proceed to the Third Reading where Amendments might or might not be made. Such Amendments require a Simple Majority which PF has. So why confuse the MPs with an unnecessary Amended Bill 10 of 2020? I smell a fish!
Chipenzi since 1998, the formation of UPND,you have never supported any government because every time you look National issues on tribal mirrors.I judging based on your personalities.unfortunately, you will never change because it’s in DNA.
Chipenzi is Tonga, hence his support for UPND. But it’s hurting to see some who thinks Republican Constitution must have the colour of UPND. Amendments are proposed ati no, they are not enough. Ask yowa MPs to go propose the ones not proposed. What do we pay them for?
Would you trust lungu , under who’s watch Zambians have lynched fellow Zambians and burned the bodies in our towns after lungu oversaw a gassing campain to have opponents labeled as terrorists ???
How many times did these same stakeholders shun any meaningful forum e.g. the ndf?how many of them even submitted a single submission. How many have even read the document because mr given lubinda interview on prime TV proved what I have been saying that those against bill 10 have not read the document and are only against it because their tribal leader says so. These are illiterates
UPND cadre in CSO jacket. Be like your friends at World Vision or NGOCC. Sober up Chipenzi
Bill 10 is evil and having a hidden agenda perpetrated by PF government must be thrown out of parliament.
We don’t evil mentality from these crooks in PF government. Why spend so much time and money on somthing the majority Zambians don’t want?
Giving Edgar Lungu powers to manipulate the constitution and prolong his stay will not be tolerated.
PF must go!
Were all these changes Chipenzi is talking about proposed during the submission period when this was appropriate? I say APPROPRIATE because any changes/proposals were suppose to undergo a VOTING PROCESS. If not, where was he or his ilk to make such submissions? Sometimes you wonder whether we Zambians just love to talk for the sake of talking. In the process wasting a lot of valuable time just talking. Constitutional making or ammendment does NOT mean every “little” issue/concern has to be covered.
I personaly think certain issues/concerns can appropriately and effectively be delt with in Acts of Parliament or other Laws. A Constitution should only be about a SET OF FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES and VALUES which underpins a Country’s governance system. And it is from those principles and…
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values that the rest of the our country’s Laws should flow.
Chimpanzee is a upnd cadre and tonga. Do you expect him to say anything in support of a PF GRZ??
Chipenzi gets a salary to say what he says, he’s not different from KZ. Even if what he says is sensible I can’t listen to him
Deal with the issues and concerns raised by Chipenzi instead of telling us he is Tonga and UPND! If some of you cant to listen to him even if what he says is sensible, you are free not to listen. However of what usefulness is it to tell the whole world that you cant listen to what Chipenzi says? If you cant listen, then dont comment!!
@Ngoma Yamaano…. Chimpanzee was invited at the NDF he refused, Chimpazee was invited to make submission in his own province, he turned it down. The same Chimpazee was also invited to make submission at the parliamentary select committee, he turned it down. Chimpanzee should now keep quiet and wait for his Mps to speak for him . Hopefully them too will not chicken out.
In a normal functioning democracy, people are free not to participate in a forum which they consider flawed. Many people were and are still not happy with the decision to constitute the NDF! Do you really want to discuss why Chipenzi refused the invitation to attend the NDF? The issue at hand now is the outcome of the NDF and its so called consultation process. People are now concerned with the content of Bill 10 which is a result of the flawed process. I am not sure who Chimpanzee is? Let us agree to disagree on substantive matters as mature beings without insulting each other.
Please!please! Please you sympathizers of Bill 10. Be warned that you don’t own Zambia to impose what the the voiceless majority will not benefit especially under the PF regime. Drop bill 10. You will not live forever. Does God ever exist in your life? Especially in a country called Christian nation. Take those autocratic gymnastics to your own family and not the nation.