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Grillo: Ban Unnecessary By-Elections, They are Too Costly
NON-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) chairperson Beatrice Grillo has backed calls by the National Restoration Party to abolish the constitutional clause requiring a by-election whenever a member of Parliament changes political parties.
Ms Grillo says the number of by-elections the country has recently witnessed is worrying.
“The NGOCC would like to state that some by-elections are necessary, especially if they come as a result of the death of a parliamentarian, but, what we have witnessed in the recent past is really something else,” she said.
She added: “A lot of resources are being spent on these by-elections. People are even leaving their offices to campaign, which means vital resources are being diverted from social economic programmes.”
Ms Grillo also said the University Teaching Hospital recently ran out of oxygen and some of the resources used on by-elections should have been channelled towards procuring oxygen.
Law Association of Zambia president James Banda also said the numerous by-elections are a waste of resources.
“The draft constitution takes care of this issue. Once the new constitution [if adopted in its current form] is in place, unnecessary by-elections will be a thing of the past,” Mr Banda said.
He urged Government to categorically state when a referendum will be held to adopt the Constitution.
Mr Banda said the current scenario where the country is in the dark over the referendum only adds to suspicions that Government wants to manipulate the contents.
“To remove this suspicion, Government must announce what will happen when the Technical Committee finishes drafting the constitution in June 2013 and states exactly when the referendum commission will be appointed to start its work,” Mr Banda said.
He said consensus will only be built if Government is open and transparent.
Posted by Editor
on February 27, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Meswin
February 27, 2013 at 10:32 am
There’s only one way to do this that’s by allowing opposition MPs to work with the government of the day. Thought those MPs were elected by people to bring development in there areas not to seat in parliament and make noise.
popo
February 27, 2013 at 11:08 am
useless ***** advice.
kakolwe
February 27, 2013 at 11:38 am
Constitution Amendment is the answer. If PF were to stand for the good of the country, the new constitution may be implemented even without the referendum. Dr. kaunda showed us how to to do this when we let go of the one party state to multi-partism.
John
February 27, 2013 at 1:33 pm
But those are ruling party policy issues which is deliberately causing the byelections.
mk
February 27, 2013 at 1:58 pm
The Rulling Party is purely responsible for all these wastages of resources for adopting traiters to contest these by elections. When a person resigns from their party to join PF, the later should not consider them for adoption because such people are simply fortune hunters who are there to fatten their bellies. Look at Namulambe, the man has no principles whatsoever, he can jump from any party and very soon he will jump from PF TO re join MMD especially if Sata does not give him a ministerial position. May the GOOD LORD deliver these resource wasters and their foolish suporters. Let us all be vigilant to ensure that the clause on by elections is not doctored by the Rulling Party,let it come out exactly as recommended by the people. We will keep an eye!
Gunner-ME
February 27, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Surely only a fool can fail to see sense in this article! Remove those pf tinted specs & see things the way they are!
G
February 27, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Zambia is a Peaciful Nation, I love it we either PF or UPND Zambia is for Zambians.
But Mind you HH is the next president.
Tommoro people are voting for their credible candidates….
The 3ye
February 27, 2013 at 5:32 pm
the other night on ZNBC news it was reported that people in sinazongwe district are eating GRASS!!!
i am me
February 27, 2013 at 9:24 pm
The duty of government is to develop the whole country not just where MP is from ruling party!!!! Shame on us!
EYE OF THE GOVERNMENT
February 27, 2013 at 10:06 pm
Woman shut up or go cook Nshima. The constitution allows the president to appoint anyone whether opposition or not. We will go on appointing them
pattii
May 7, 2013 at 7:43 pm
vivapf.condem by elections while pf is mobilisg party.hh 4southn p.sata 4zambians