By Francis Chipalo
UPND media director Mark Simuwe has claimed that it is the opposition that has sponsored parliamentary by-elections held in the recent past.
And Simuwe says Independent Members of Parliament are the only ones to attract by-elections.
Speaking at a media briefing, Monday morning on the proposed
Amendment Bill No.7 of 2025, which he says would address issues of by-elections occurring unnecessarily, Simuwe said it has been the considered view by the ruling party from the time of the opposition that having by-elections from time to time disturbes continuity and should therefore be stopped.
“We have so far had about 60 of them and that is not good nor is it progressive,” Simuwe said.
He cited among others the Parliamentary By-elections in Kawambwa, and the Copperbelt province, among others, which he claimed as having been sponsored by the opposition.
Simuwe also highlighted parliamentary seats which were recently held by independent MPs but have now been subjected to by-elections, an occurrence he said can be avoided in the proposed bill under public discourse.
The outspoken politician has reminded the public the costs that comes with by-elections, adding that the money spent can be channeled to other developmental projects as opposed to spending on something which could have been avoided.
Simuwe further said the proposed clauses in the bill such as the delimitation of certain constituencies which are “too big” for one MP is progressive.
“It will be naive for an MP to attend to such bigger constituencies because before they finish their time, they would have not attended to all issues affecting such a constituency,” he said.
Simuwe added that the opposition are basically fighting the constituency.
Meanwhile, Simuwe has challenged those opposing the proposed bill to provide alternatives as opposed to rubbishing the proposal.
“I think the problem the opposition have is us being in power and not the contents in the documents,” he added.