NATIONAL Restoration Party (NAREP) president Elias Chipimo has said he is not calling for an early election.
Mr Chipimo said in an interview that his party was not interested in early polls before the 2016 general elections as it has been reported.
Mr Chipimo has come under attack from various groups after he was reported to have called for early elections.
The Foundation for Democratic Process said conducting early elections was unrealistic and Government ruled out the possibility of that hapenning.
Mr Chipimo said what NAREP was calling for, was for all opposition political parties to pick a neutral presidential candidate who would stand against the Patriotic Front (PF) presidential candidate in the 2016 polls.
“In order to come up with a good Constitution, we need an interim government which will come up with this Constitution. However, the interim government should be run by a neutral person, a non politician,” Mr Chipimo said.
He said politicians, including himself had vested interests which prevented them from delivering a good Constitution, a problem a neutral person would not have.
Mr Chipimo said the interim government should rule for nine months after which they should be fresh elections for all political parties to participate in individually.
He said the roadmap he was calling for was not illegal but something that could be done.
Asked if he was not confident that his party or any opposition political party would win the next general election and deliver the Constitution, Mr Chipimo said he was confident but that the process he was proposing was the best way the country would have a new Constitution.
Another flip – flop , no direction opposition misleader.
One statement today, another tomorrow.
Give us a freakin break man.
Alilwala akashishi elias
How old is this Elias chap kanshi? He looks to be Sata’s age. Alichilukila ubulumendo.
He is saying is that NO POLITICIAN can give you a new constition with a 50+1 clause. Thats why you needed a transitional non partisan head of state after time for sata comes to an end. That indivisual will facilitate the production of a people driven constitution before going for the presidential and general elections. Is that difficult to understand comrades.
The former can fit into you my dear princess, the former wont!
I beg your pardon: The former can fit into you my dear princess, the latter wont!
Thanks for admitting that not even you or any other politician or political party can give us a constitution. younger all fake and only concerned with your stomach.
You need stratagies that will remove sata frm state house. Right now there is non. It is highly illusional for HH and Nevers to imagine entering the gates of state house while SATA is still alive. Sata is a master schemer. And am very shocked that the oppostion are still crying for a constitution when Sata has not minced his words over the mater. Come up with Plan B. HH may even be barred from standing
I hear you man. If Sata is still alive come 2016, he is not the sort to just hand over power to the opposition for winning the elections. Make no mistakes, this is a very dangerous man! Why do you think uncle Bob in Zimbabwe keeps winning elections? Chipimo has foresight. Listen and understand before you rush to pass dismiss him as being delusional, imwe ba kankuni na bakamalasha!.
@Destroyer
we thank God at the rate he is withering, he certainly will not be there.I just imagine if he was as fit as he was before 2011, the country would’ve been on fire by now, but God deliberately allowed him to be neutralised to some extent to allow his people learn a lesson for the next elections.
Who is going to choose that neutral person and from where?
Can I suggest from the church. The likes of Joe Imakando, Joshua Banda or even the arch Bishop.
Iwe DitA, we are not advocating a theocracy, tiye uko. But thank you for your suggestions.
The more Elias talks about this plan of his, the more desperate and dillusional he sounds. He should quit while he as ahead and just admit that his plan was not well-conceived. Every politician is entitled to a mistake, its when one becomes stubborn about admitting they are wrong that it becomes annoying. Stop annoying people Elias Chipimo.
Don’t just criticise. ….look at the details. …just is am Oxford graduate we are talking about. …he is not stupid he knows what he is talking about besides he is one of the best lawyers in Zambia.
Elias has realized in its raw form his earlier suggestion was treasonous and tantamount to advocating chaos outside of the constitution. This alternative he is now turning to is something our opposition has tried and failed lamentably over the years. If I were the opposition, I would push for a clause within parliament to remedy some of the shortcomings of the so-called constitution-making process. For example, the referendum legislative amendment should have been done initially so that it was not merely a piece of the TOR. As it stands, it is not in the constitution but a discretion of the executive.
This is why this country has not developed 50 years after independence. A person as good as Elias Chipimo comes up with a very neutral and good proposal, you start saying it can not work without even giving reasons. You think those people who dance on top of cars without clothes can give you a constitution once voted? NAREP is the only one making sense at the moment. But Mr. Chipimo go to the rural areas and campaign. Let people know that we have hope in you.
Well said. …NAREP and Chipimo are the only party ones talkin sence. …..the only party that has no violent cadres. ..viva NAREP. ..viva Chipimo
Elias just a word or encouragement. This plan is very good and you must continue pushing for people to understand an support it. We can only archive this by doing what you are proposing. Good thinking NAREP
I hear a Chicken or is it a Duck? Quack! Quack!
All aspiring politicians need to go for check ups. State house is not a ward
…@james
…I appreciate your sense of humour……..you have made my day….
Ba Chipimo…applying the old adage………’IF U CAN’T CONVINCE THEM, CONFUSE THEM……’
Even in a hundred years, I don’t see that proposal workable with the crop of leaders we have currently. U keep emphasising on a ‘neutral’ candidate….please give examples either by naming few individuals or organisation they may belong to…..
If that ‘neutral’ candidate loses to PF then what next….??
The neutral candidate will not be a politian to compete for a elective position. The OASIS or NGOCC could provide or propose a name . No politician in Zambia will give your a people driven constitution. Even me i would not act in a manner that would puts me on my left foot. Thats elementary logic.
ba chipimo this is a myopic and un-researched argument. just work hard to sell your party so that you win in 2016 and implement your theories other wise your proposals are childish and elementary and you keep on altering it every day!
this Elias Chipimo is a time waster. just because his party can’t win elections doesn’t mean no other party can win. useless PF won using the current useless constitution. so if a serious party won they would deliver a new constitution. Abash NAREP! Abash useless PF!. viva Haleisa Haleisa!
Iwe Mwamba Zambia is a democratic state. .. Chipimo is entitled to his views. .no need for such language you will have your say in 2016……but don’t take the Zambian voters for granted with your HH.
@Mwamba, which part of southern province do you hail from. I was reliably informed that most pro hh bloggers register fake names from northern Zambia to make it look like hh has penetrated that part of the country. Watchgalu correspondents are mostly bloggers who have migrated from their site. They have the time respond to every article. They realized that most moderate Zambians do not contribute to watchgalu site because of its policy of not publishing any article criticizing their hero and hence not visiting their site. They have managed to make LT dirty with the insults they have imported from their sick site.
Well spotted it’s the keyboard terriorsts from HH land that have multiple identities to post anti Chipimo messages. ….we know you.
Coming to the topic at hand, a simple question to chipimo is, is he trying to suggest that Zambia conducts 2 presidential elections in one year. One with a neutral person representing the opposition and the second one free for all? Who is going to fund this costly venture?
Funding will come from government coffers. …its a one in a lifetime event. ….very important for Zambians now and future.
From the start, President Chipimo did not advocate for EARLY elections. People assumed that and run with it. He has NOT changed his position because it remains the same if you choose to read his initial proposal. It is simple. DURING THE 2016 elections, since the PF cant perform the leaders in Zambia should come together pick one leader, a senior citizen, to stand against the PF and if they win they will only run the country for 9 months so we can get a constitution. THIS IS A SELFLESS ACT on behalf of ANYONE who wants a constitution for the people of ZAMBIA. This is up to the Zambian people to take this into account or dismiss it.
George N. Mtonga