Mrs. Zaloumis noted that the position of president needs someone who can articulate issues on a higher level adding that the clause is an encouragement for people aspiring for presidency to work hard.
She observed that things have slowly changed in the world hence the need for leaders in higher offices to be enlightened.
Mrs. Zaloumis was speaking when she featured on ‘Let the people talk’ programme on radio Phoenix today together with newly appointed MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya and opposition PF spokesperson Given Lubinda.
Mrs. Zaloumis said the clause is not meant to discriminate against the poor or to hinder opposition PF leader Michael Sata as seen by sections of society.
She said the fact that Mr Sata has a degree is encouraging adding that the opposition leader has not been just sitting but studying in readiness to contest for the republican presidency.
And MMD spokesperson Siliya said the 50 plus one advocates should realise that the clause is a recipe for anarchy in many countries where it has been practice.
Ms Siliya said if the people of Zambia says the referendum is costly for the nation, they should also realise how expensive it would be for the nation to go for a re – election in a case where the contestants fail to reach 50+ 1 per cent mark.
She however disclosed that it was the opposition MPs attending the NCC who pushed for the degree clause to be enshrined in the constitution.
And FP Spokesperson Given Lubinda said that his party will not rescind its decision on the NCC and will not fall pray to the ruling party’s strategy to destabilize the pact through some article of the NCC.
Mr Lubinda however said MMD should be ready to apologize to the people of Zambia should the constitution be a waist of taxpayers’ money in the end.
ZANIS
This is the best that the government can do for the poor zambian children whose chances of a decent educations runs parallel to pipe dreams.But the only question is ,are we capable of funding and maintaining free education in Zambia ?
This is being dull really. Why not wait for the time when you will give free education to all Zambians then come up with this useless degree clause? And what type of degree ? A degree in dancing or massaging? Has RB been articulate and smart in dealing with the Zambian economy? Please chairlady spare us the embaracement you have caused us. Just remove this useless clause [-([-([-([-(
THIS IS WHAT HH HASBEEN TALKING ABOUT, FREE EDUCATION!
MMD and PF rebel MP’s caught in their own trap. This goes only to show that Sata is a visionary leader. He saw it coming and quickly got his degree. Ma Orange and your friends, can you scheme another thing so we can truly believe you are a PhD holder?
I remember those good days at Perseverance School in Ndola. Everything on a silver plate. I miss my old school and pals and being amongest the top (highest) 3 to pass in school. Anything I could do to help?
I miss the time we could smell siwaya (mapopwe) during class from the National Breweries (Chibuku – Hill Crest, Ndola)
At last!!! something positive is coming out of the NCC. Has anybody wondered why every corporation recruits highly qualified CEOs. Why do we think we can relegate the running of our country to every Jim and Jack? Lets stop being utopic by cheating ourselves that higher education (degree) has nothing to offer in politics.
Zambia needs policy debates like the western world if they feel a degree is that important. Let all people wanting to attain office debate publicly on policies. They should follow the American or British way of debates so that people have an informed choice. Someone can have a degree in catering with no work experience… we need more information how that catering governs a country.
Opposition political party member pushed for the degree clause – Dora Siliya disclosed.
Mrs. Zaloumis, you are “putting the cart before the horse”!! You have it all backwards, Madam!! Educate the population first, and when you have the numbers of educated citizens to write home about, then maybe you can start thinking about putting such clauses in the constitution. Because then people will have no reason to see it as discriminatory!!
At the moment this ridiculous clause you are fighting ‘tooth and nail’ to force down the throats of Zambians will only make a large segment of the population feel politically disfranchise and left-out—–a recipe for resentment towards the RULING ELITE, hence the potential for political instability and armed conflicts. It may not happen tomorrow but you definitely are setting up future generations for sort of POLITICAL APETHEID!!
#10 Yambayamba.. You have an intuitive & visionary mind and are very right. People need to understand that the minute you create a caste system in 3rd world impoverished undereducated African Zambia and begin to divide people as ruling elite vs the masses (who are just struggling to have decent a meal a day) you are creating the recipe for revolt, militancy, armed separatist movements, civil war etc because people feel disenfranchised by people who will not care less about them or look after them.. so will resort to lookign after themselves.. This is why people are fighting all over the world. Srilanka etc.. Im a graduate and educated but believe EDUCATE people first and not this nonsense.. Imagine how many people wud have been educated wiht money spent on NCC?? Mvunga, Mungomba comms
Well, I don’t know if bloggers have realised the Minister of Education…Dora Siliya has started concentrating on her new job title MMD spokeswoman. Does Dora Siliya not realise she has the most important job in the country like the Ministry of Health …Education ? She is not superwoman who can handle 2 departments and the other one suffer. We should be only hearing education speeches and programmes from Dora…and not MMD politics. A person can not have their cake and eat it.