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Only New Constitution Can Stop By-Elections
WE ARE worried about the growing acrimony surrounding the by-elections being caused by defections, especially by members of Parliament from one political party to another.
This debate, if allowed to drag on, has the potential to distract the nation from other equally important issues requiring government’s attention.
The by-elections are inevitable under the current political dispensation as President Sata said in his statement on Tuesday.
Every citizen has the right to belong to an organised group of people and free to leave any time they feel like.
It is called freedom of association.
Then MPs resigning from opposition political parties to join the Patriotic Front (PF) have been giving their own reasons for making those decisions.
These are adults who do not have to get permission from anyone to respond to their conscience.
Some have cited intolerance and pettiness while others have blamed lack of visionary and inspiring leadership in their respective parties.
No defector has so far hinted they had been promised anything in return. It is therefore unfair to heap the blame at the feet of the PF and the government for this political migration.
As the President explained in his statement, the government has no choice but to fund the by-elections because that is an obligation placed on its shoulders by the current Constitution.
It is equally unfair to urge the PF to reject or chase MPs and other leaders defecting from opposition parties to join its ranks.
That would be a violation of their right to the freedom of association and a negation of the same democracy the government’s critics are purporting to be defending.
If a defector agrees with the PF’s manifesto and the programmes of its government, the ruling party does not have a basis on which to turn them away.
It is up to the opposition parties to engage in serious intra-party transformation and come up with measures that will make it attractive for their members to stay.
But many observers have pointed to the lack of a strong democratic foundation and intolerance to divergent ideas in most opposition parties.
The attacks on the PF will not solve the problem of by-elections because the party is also just a mere player in the arena of democracy.
Our people are intelligent enough to judge who has their interests at heart and who is merely using them to achieve their personal objectives.
They should be allowed to enjoy their freedom to choose the person they want to speak on their behalf in Parliament.
As long as we are stuck with the current Constitution, the defections and by-elections will not end because MPs from both the PF and opposition parties will continue to exercise their rights.
The by-elections can only be stopped through a new people-driven constitution. It is for this reason all citizens – organisations and groups – must fully support the current constitution-making process.
The proposed new Constitution has progressive articles and clauses, which will help resolve such contentious issues as by-elections if passed.
There is, therefore, no need to put pressure on the government and the PF to stop respecting certain provisions of the current Constitution to satisfy opposition parties.
It is incumbent upon the MPs to examine themselves and judge whether defecting from the political parties that sponsored them is in the best interest of the electorate.
The allegation of the government “wasting resources” on the by-elections stands on very weak legs because fulfilling a constitutional requirement cannot be described as wastage.
Posted by Editor
on May 10, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Simwawa N
May 10, 2013 at 11:46 am
Sums it all. Good article.
Maano
May 10, 2013 at 12:06 pm
Agreed the draft Constitution in its current form will solve the unnecessary bye-election.
But people should not be encouraged to be gullible.
There is need to exercise equity, morality and social responsibility. True leaders do not need a Constititution to behave responsibly. Not all matters of reason and fair play can be legislated!
The truth remains that that defectors are irresponsible. They are selfish. Development does not only flow to members of the ruling class. After all, MPS are the Legislative wing of this government or are they?
southcant!
May 10, 2013 at 2:17 pm
Am sure that the below quote adresses your concerns!
+
If a defector agrees with the PF’s manifesto and the programmes of its government, the ruling party does not have a basis on which to turn them away.
It is up to the opposition parties to engage in serious intra-party transformation and come up with measures that will make it attractive for their members to stay.
Ndaje Kahks
May 10, 2013 at 12:24 pm
Politic is about numbers therefore it would be foolish for PF to turn away MPs who want to crossover. As already mentioned only the Law can stop this.So enact this law to restrict movements of MPs.
isaac
May 10, 2013 at 1:13 pm
Politics is about numbers,thats is why even Upnd never denied William Banda of his entry into that party even at his peak of his violence.
southcant!
May 10, 2013 at 2:18 pm
nice one, that is why I keep saying south can’t!
Livingstone
May 10, 2013 at 3:17 pm
Well said and thumbs up guys, all the best
OSMORE
May 10, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Let them cry .Even the one blaming pf alipukuta. Those men and women are adults bambi ne fishikulu. Can u stop them? Gonga Canicius Banda just joined upnd, With them it is okey. mwetupubamwe!
Ken
May 10, 2013 at 8:35 pm
I was listening To the speach by HE Barak Obama about immigration in USA. “everyone, latin American, Caribean, African, Young, old, gay or lesbean, You can all make It To America”. Then, who are You To stop social migration.
tefyo
May 10, 2013 at 9:47 pm
Thank you. You have said it in so many words that we are ******, idiots.
Off course no MP or councillor is going to hint that he has been bought and will be getting something in return. Never! But I have personally witnessed the offering from PF to buy a councillor to defect.
Additionally, I think our president can be impeached for saying during campaigns that development will only come through the ruling party. This amounts to intimidation and it is totaly against the fundamentals of multi-party democracy. I would also like to believe that if PF wins those seats after such a statement, the result can be contested in a court of law
duh!
May 10, 2013 at 11:10 pm
i wish to encourage voter appathy where such uncalled for by elections are taking place. let us threaten to have no m.p. in the constitution if the chi m.p. defects from his party. refrain from going for their rallies. they are time wasters. only go for genuine by elections. I wish to encourage FODEP to join in this campaign against silly, unnecessary by-elections.
Given Lubinda still performed well for his constituency even if he was in oposition. same applies to Guy scott. What is making these political prostitutes to not perform when they are in opposition.
Deja Vu
May 11, 2013 at 6:45 am
Can you see how the PF treated the Given Lubinda saga? If it was Upnd/MMD Lubinda was going to be history and another by election
wazanga
May 11, 2013 at 1:39 am
Let them talk pf go go go
pat
May 11, 2013 at 2:15 am
pf should not go to sleep like MMD did and found it self muli mwamoneni.therefore. pf has party should criet good enviroment for more defectors.
TD
May 11, 2013 at 8:47 am
The multitude of those commenting seem to support pf and u cant be denied that. If u are a dunderhead like one at state house, you cant calculate the cost. The worst is when you have no foresight. Pf wants a one party state but unfortunately it will work against them. They have already gone to sleep and too early for that matter. They are obsessed with bye elections at the expense of development. They said MMD is corrupt. If u look at the numba of defections, u can tell who is corrupt now. MMD is becoming cleaner and pf dirtier! And if surely anybody is allergic to corruption, he will die soon. Wake up, the biggest bye election is on da one and pf is creating room for Panji Kaunda. Chabipa!!
kapandula
May 11, 2013 at 1:04 pm
defectors are moving from opposition on selfish gain becoz the pafwaka is promising them jobs. Both defectors and pafwaka are not principled.They are greed
kapandula
May 11, 2013 at 1:09 pm
Politics of the berry, munkombwe clearly stated this that no ones doesn’t like eating.So such by election created on un principled manner.Please the article above is trash.
kapandula
May 11, 2013 at 1:13 pm
Given Lubinda didnot resign or defect can you remember about rebel MPs. Pls we should not too forgetfully like a chickens.
kapandula
May 11, 2013 at 1:14 pm
ask Forstina Sinyangwe.what is the hell iwth your brains
costa
May 11, 2013 at 8:39 pm
kapandula you are dull,wat the hell of english is this.Am tired with the pay foward party(pf).
kakolwe
May 12, 2013 at 4:51 am
Imwe ba pungwa, if HH & Nevers fire their MPs, what do you expect parliament to do? Not declare the seats vacant. Let MMD & UPND keep MPs who work with govt. Its constitutional!!!!