WE REJECT THE DECALRED VACANCIES; HICHILEMA SCARED OF RERUN AND 50% + 1 CLAUSE
Second Deputy Speaker Moses Moyo’s declaration of nine (9) parliamentary seats held by the Patriotic Front (PF) vacant is undemocratic, mischievous and confirms the “kangaroo nature” of the National Assembly today.
In the interest of justice, we outrightly reject this poorly choreographed scheme whose consequences will soon be so embarrassing for both its architects and implementors. This is not a way to govern a country. And it is such a shame to Mr Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND that such utter despotism and constitutional chaos can be allowed to play out on the floor of the House, which is expected to be a neutral arbiter in our country’s governance system.
This decision is retrogressive and an indictment on of the leadership of the country’s three arms of government, especially the executive, which is resolved to destroy the country’s democracy through a series of irregular, unconstitutional and barbaric manoeuvres to cement its hold over the country.
We have said it before that this is not an internal matter of PF. It is an issue of very serious national consequences if not handled properly. This is about Mr Hichilema wanting to garner the majority in Parliament, which he failed to obtain through the general elections. The purpose of these amateurish political manoevures is to give himself a majority in Parliament that he requires to make amendments to the Constitution that will perpetuate and entrench his divisive, corrupt and chaotic rule.
Mr Hichilema wants to change the Constitution to perpetuate his stay in office by removing the five-year presidential term limit and introduce a seven-year term as well as remove the 50% + 1 to revert to First Past the post electoral system to avoid a rerun that he fears greatly.
He knows he can’t win an election, which is why he wants to dilute opposition representation in Parliament to hang on to power regardless of the destruction to our democracy.
We reject Mr Moyo’s declaration outrightly, and we call upon all progressive stakeholders of this country to get involved and rescue the country from Mr Hichilema’s desperation to install a full-blown dictatorship and make this country an outpost of senseless tyranny.
This is what happens to a nation, a country when values, principles, and ethics are lost and sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. And those who aided or initiated this destructive process are now helplessly watching the inferno that they ignited. Sadly, Mr Miles Sampa, wittingly or unwittingly, is the “hero” of this veritable chaos.
One bad term, doesn’t deserve another, aleya!
Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party
