Editorial: Wynter’s Inconsistencies On Constitution

WYNTER Kabimba’s attacks on the Patriotic Front and President Lungu over amendments to the constitution as demanded by the greater majority of Zambians puts into question his sincerity on the matter he religiously defended just over a year ago.
It also demonstrates that some politicians are prepared change goal posts to canvas for votes in the hope that Zambians’ memories are short.
Those who aspire to serve the masses should listen to and do what those masses want.
The Rainbow general secretary criticised virtually everything about the constitution; from content to mode of adoption, yet all Zambians know that Mr Kabimba superintended over the constitution technical committee and did not release it despite people’s outcry.
He kept it under wraps, occasionally arguing that some of the content was alien and, therefore, inimical to the interest of Zambians. Despite repeated demands by Zambians, Mr Kabimba stood his ground and citizens never saw the document during his tenure as minister of Justice.
It is, therefore, shocking he can today see things differently using the same lens.
We believe Zambians are able to see through all this and can tell who, between Mr Kabimba and President Lungu, is genuine about giving them the constitution they have been yearning for.
Within weeks of being appointed minister of Justice, Mr Lungu released the draft constitution, in its entirety, to Zambians.
Mr Kabimba, now Rainbow Party presidential candidate, did not do this as he spent most of his time lecturing interest groups.
How, today, can he call the process a sham when most of Zambians’ demands have been met in the constitution amendment bill that President Lungu assented to on January 5?
President Lungu last Tuesday assented to two bills passed by Parliament, bringing into effect the Constitution of Zambia Act No. 1 of 2016 and the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Ac No. 2 of 2016.
Besides the dual citizenship and grade 12 requirements, the constitution contains many other new provisions, including the 50 percent plus one vote for a winning presidential candidate, running mate to the presidential candidate, and requirement for presidential candidates to have at least 1,000 supporters drawn from all the provinces.
Such is the content of a document Mr Kabimba did not release to Zambians but which President Lungu did not only give the citizens but also made it into law by assenting to it at a public function.
So, why is Mr Kabimba criticising President Lungu for doing the right thing? Where is the logic or does he think he can hoodwink Zambians?
Is he communicating that he cannot mobilise 1,000 supporters to support his bid or he cannot find a running mate? If these two clauses would be a challenge to Mr Kabimba, then the 50 percent plus one will not be attainable.
Which Zambian, other than Mr Kabimba, is against such progressive clauses?
Where does Mr Kabimba get the boldness to talk about the constitution not being people-driven when he failed to release a single word to Zambians when he had authority to?
We cannot direct Mr Kabimba on what to say but we believe politics must have ethics, otherwise citizens will lose confidence in politicians, particularly those that change positions on the same national matter.
Logical fallacies such as those shown by the Rainbow Party presidential candidate should not be condoned, let alone, allowed.
He is certainly lost in a labyrinth of inconsistencies. That’s why they say ‘silence is golden’.

ZambiandailyMail

Posted by Editor on January 13, 2016. Filed under LATEST NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.