Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
ZCID Executive Director Horrance Chilando
The ruling Patriotic Front has been advised to give their position over the growing debate on President Edgar Lungu serving two full presidential terms.
Zambia Center for Inter Party Dialogue (ZCID) Executive Director Horrance Chilando has told QFM News via telephone that it is important that the ruling party clarifies on that issue so that people will not debate in vacuum.
Mr. Chilando says the debate has been going on for a few days now and that there is no official statement coming from the party leadership and the President himself.
He says the party leadership must sit down and come up with a strong statement over the matter so that they are not misunderstood.
He adds that if the party has no intentions of championing for President Lungu serving a full term now or be allowed to stand again in 2021, they do well to respond and put the matter to rest.
Mr. Chilando has since advised the ruling party to issue a comprehensive statement over the matter so that the people of Zambia know their full position over the growing debate.
And speaking in a separate phone interview, Green Party President Peter Sinkamba has advised the ruling party to follow what the constitution says on such matters.
Mr. Sinkamba says the PF as a party in power, should be seen to be following what is stipulated in the republican constitution and not the PF constitution.
The Civil Society and the opposition parties are fast asleep and can not see through the machinations of the PF with regards to postponing the presidential and general elections. Foremost the party’s must look into and analyze the language being used by the PF to advance this cause. Jean Kapata says “Lungu must be allowed to complete his two terms as president” and Davies Chama the party SG says Zambia will be unrecognizable after Lungu’s first term!” Simple logic tells one that as per Chama Lungu is in his first five year term and Kapata tops it up with the appeal that Lungu be reelected in 2020!
Meanwhile is anybody following up on what is happening in the country side? Politicians need not be oblivious to the fact that Zambia is highly challenged in education thus should not only concentrate their efforts within the boundaries alongside the line of rail for in denying critical information to the rural areas they end up deciding what is “good” for the country!
Wily PF is taking advantage of the outlying areas by supplying misinformation on the ongoing debate in Lusaka, i.e. The civil society and opposition parties hate President Lungu who having won the election in January do not want him to complete his first term which ends in 2020 thus want him to hold another election in 2016! The PF can further employ the tactic of being considerate that the country does not have the money for such an election but rather wish to use the little available resources towards completing projects than wasteful elections! Mark my view, the country side is largely uneducated and have no insights of what is happening in Lusaka and easily get cheated! So sleep on civil society and opposition parties that by the time you know it the carpet will have been pulled from under your feet. Conduct a snap survey and truth will emerge!