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Hon. Guy Scott Is the Right Person to Act as President
I wish to join other Zambians in expressing my heartfelt grief upon the passing of President Michael C. Sata. It is really another dark chapter in our beloved country’s history!
With respect to the issue concerning the person who is supposed to act as Republican President during the 90-day period leading to the election of the next Republican President, Hon. Guy Scott is constitutionally the right person to assume the functions of the presidency as stipulated in Article 38(2) of the 1996 Republican Constitution as follows:
“Whenever the office of the President becomes vacant, the Vice-President or, in the absence of the Vice-President or if the Vice President is unable, by reason of physical or mental infirmity, to discharge the functions of his office, a member of the Cabinet elected by the Cabinet shall perform the functions of the office of the President until a person elected as President in accordance with Article 34 assumes office.”
As members of the Zambian family and members of a civilized society,I trust that we will remain calm and peaceful during this very difficult time of national mourning. I also trust that political leaders will dissuade their supporters from engaging inpolitically motivated violence, because such violence is likely to destroy our beloved country if we fail to make a resolute attempt to address its underlying causes.
Allow me to re-state what I have identified before in my previous articles as some of the salient causes of politically motivated violence, including the tendency by some Zambians to consider other citizens who have dissenting political views, as well as those who belong to other political parties, as “enemies” rather than “patriots” who also have a stake and a genuine interest in the future of our beloved country.
The real enemies of our beloved country today are not any given individuals or groups of individuals; and they are certainly not any given political parties, foreign countries, non-governmental organizations, or a particular political or economic ideology. Rather, our real enemies are poverty, hunger, ignorance, illiteracy, disease, widespread unemployment, crime, corruption, and moral decay.
Politically motivated violence has also been exacerbated by intolerance, lack of respect for the rule of law, and an inability, on the part of perpetrators, to reach compromises with people who have dissenting views.
Besides, the tendency by some half-baked politicians to demonize and/or stigmatize political opponents has tended to incite political supporters against those who are labeled as political malcontents.
Moreover, politically motivated violence has been perpetrated against some leaders within political parties merely because they are often seen mixing with leaders from other political parties. But how on earth can a relative, a friend, a colleague, a neighbor, or a fellow worshipper become an “enemy” simply because he or she happens to belong to one of the other political parties in the country?
And the fact that political cadres are readily available to be used by their leaders to engage in violence on a regular basis in exchange for booze, a bag of corn meal, or a few pieces of silver attests to the unprecedented lack of decent means of earning a living—an issue which the next Republican president will need to address by devising simple, practical and commonsense solutions to our beloved country’s socioeconomic malaise.
Each and every one of us has a civic duty and obligation to confront politically motivated violence head-on in order to maintain the viability of our nascent democracy. Political leaders particularly have an enormous role to play in this endeavor; in the pursuit of their political ambitions, for example, they need to walk the walk in exhibiting a high level of tact and utmost respect in their dealings with political opponents and other members of society.
We should all learn to promote and propagate our political views in a manner that honors and acknowledges other citizens’ constitutionally guaranteed right to participate in the political process.
The author, Henry Kyambalesa, is a Zambian academic currently living in the City and County of Denver in the State of Colorado, USA.
Posted by
visitor njala
November 6, 2014 at 9:21 am
An academic is supposed to read AND understand the Zambian constitution. There are other articles in there that talk about this topic (eg parentage). Why are you ignoring it? Read them togetAn academic is supposed to read AND understand the Zambian constAn academic is supposed to read AND understand the Zambian constitution. There are other articles in there that talk about this topic (eg parentage). Why are you ignoring it? Read them togetAn academic is supposed to read AND understand the Zambian constituti
Jeff
November 6, 2014 at 1:54 pm
The parentage clause is not a hindrance either going by the 1998 supreme court ruling. Yes Scott is the lawful person to run the country and in future if he so wishes.
humphrey
November 6, 2014 at 9:22 am
GUY SCOTT IS THE RIGHT MAN TO RULE WITHIN THE 90 DAYS PERIOD.AND IF IT WAS NOT THE CONSTITUTION THAT BARS HIM FROM RUNNING FOR PRESIDENCY HE IS STILL THE RIGHT MAN TO TAKE FROM SATA ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT HIS LEADERSHIP SKILL. NOW THE PROBLEM IS BEEN CAUSED BY THOSE SO CALLED EDUCATED PEOPLE WHO WANTS TO INTERRUPT CONSTITUTION WRONGLY WHILE THE CONSTITUTION IS SO PLAIN EVEN AS WHO ARE NOT EDUCATED ARE ABLE TO INTERRUPT IT. ITS SO SAD IN THIS COUNTRY TO SEE EDUCATED PEOPLE MISLEADING THE PEOPLE . IN WESTERN COUNTRY ITS THE EDUCATED WHO COME UP WITH GREAT IDEAS BUT HERE IN ZAMBIA THE EDUCATED ARE THE ONES LEADING THE COUNTRY WRONGLY AND FAILING TO COME UP WITH BUSINESS THAT CAN TRANSFORM THIS NATION. SO MY APPEAL TO ALL THOSE WHO EDUCATED LEARN TO OFFER GREAT IDEAS THAT WILL CHANGE THIS NATION FOR BETTER. AND MY OTHER APPEAR GOES TO GODFREY MIYANDA WHO HAS FAILED TO LEAD HIS PARTY BUT WANTS TO TAKE THE ISSUE OF ACTING PRESIDENT GUYS SCOTT TO COURT. SHAME BA MIYANDA, CAN YOU CONCENTRATE ON MOBILIZING YOUR PARTY THAN TALK ABOUT THE AFFAIRS OF THIS NATION
visitor njala
November 6, 2014 at 9:24 am
An academic is supposed to read AND understand the Zambian constitution. There are other articles in there that talk about this topic (eg parentage). Why are you ignoring it? Read them together!
In any case we are the voters and we WILL NOT vote for Scott.
Klim
November 6, 2014 at 10:02 am
Guy Scott is not a candidate as the constitution stands now. Why are you so worried about him? He is just going to take the nation to the elections. Why should you worry about 90 days or three months? Worry about what happens after that.
from a tribal party
November 6, 2014 at 11:37 am
why pluralize yourself when you are just one individual? use correct English.
BON
November 6, 2014 at 10:30 am
PLIZ LET GUY SCOT RULE IS A ZAMBIAN LIKE US, THE WIGHT COLOUR IS NOT PROBLEM AND IS THE ONLY PERSON CLOSE TO SATA HE HAS THE ABILITY TO RULE BETTER THAN INDOSHI ISHA SHALA.
Maano
November 6, 2014 at 11:26 am
Actually, the Supreme Court Ruling on Akashambatwa And Others Vs Chiluba does qualify Guy Scott to stand as Zambian Presidential candidate. Check it out!
katobo
November 6, 2014 at 12:41 pm
I think I have nothing much 2 say about this,let’s be one emotional and spiritual….
Petroda
November 6, 2014 at 12:53 pm
Iwe Visitor wanjala its you who is supposed to understand the constitution.With the current constitution Scott is not barred from ‘Acting’ as president or vice for a limited period only , but is barred from being a full functioning president of the land.Please study the qualification for being a president and or vice president,you will note that with the position of vice president there are no specific requirements or restrictions required only that one has to be a Zambian citizen.There is parental restrictions unlike for the post of President of Zambia where it is restricted,therefore based on this Scott qualifies to act.I have always said that Scott is more Zambian than Ruphia Banda because he was born here in Zambia unlike Banda who was born in Zimbabwe.
BON
November 6, 2014 at 1:25 pm
YES SCOT IS QUALIFIED TO BE THE PRESIDENT.
umu bemba nkonko
November 6, 2014 at 1:42 pm
its the rightful and respectful thing to do!
afcon phiri
November 6, 2014 at 2:05 pm
SCOTT CAN NOT BE PRESIDENT IN ZAMBIA.
LET CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI TAKE OVER THE MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP FOR PF TO EASILY WIN 2016 AS WELL.
ZAMBIA NEEDS A HARDWORKER, NO NONSENSE, VISIONARY AND HEART FOR THE POOR. KAMBWILI HAS 80% SATA’S ATTRIBUTES. SATAS PROJECTS SHUD CONTINUE AND BE COMPLETED IN FULL.
afcon phiri
November 6, 2014 at 2:08 pm
GUY SCOTT CANT BE PRESIDENT IN ZAMBIA.WE HAVE ABLE LEADERS IN PF TO TAKE OVER.
MOREOVER, WE DO NOT NEED OLD PEOPLE ANYMORE.
Sita Wamulima
November 6, 2014 at 8:12 pm
I wonder if some zambians do understand what politics are really about. Though the constitution might be a guiding factor one has to abide to imposed regulations within zambian laws.It is a sign of primitive to use one skin to degrade one’s ability to rule the country. While at he same time we all know that ZAMBIA has never had what we may call real indigenous ZAMBIA. There are no persons in Zambia who do not carry any foreign DNA their blood. We are degerates from Congo. And later came the results from all intermarriages. My appeal to all peacful loving zambians is that please ignore all those misinterpretations over the constitution. But support Mr. Scott to finish the 2 years PF presidential terms. Like one comrade from the Netherlands mentioned. What we Zambians need is stability and peace before the elections. To hold elections within 2 years is just premature and invitation to violence.
syms
November 7, 2014 at 9:34 am
PF SUPPORTERS LETS GO 4 THE FIST LADY CHRSTINE KASEBA SATA AS OUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. SHE IS A GOOD PERSON WHO HAD SHOWN TOTAL SUPPORT TO HER HUSBAND THROUGH AND THROUGH UNTILL HIS DEATH.THOUGH SHE IS MOURNING, ITS NOT A TARB.LETS MAKE A DIFFERENCE, A WOMAN 4 A PRESIDENT.SHE IS A RIGHT PERSON.
uncle D
November 9, 2014 at 12:06 am
Afcon Phiri think like a man do not think like a person who is in a small Tin.Although Kambwili is BIG,he can not be the president of this county.