Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
President Edgar Lungu
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has requested President Lungu to dismiss the petition by Heritage Party Leader Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda for lack of merit.
YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza tells QFM News in an interview that his organization is sadden that General Miyanda could blatantly accuse Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula as having failed to provide leadership when Government had proceeded to table the Bill before the National Assembly for debate and enactment.
Mr. Mwanza says even a cursory reading of the petition, makes clear that there is no message worth the President’s consideration and could, in the extreme, be read as a pointless attempt to delay, if not stop, the Zambian people at home and abroad from coming up with a progressive constitution.
Mr. Mwanza notes with sadness that General Miyanda who, as leader of the Heritage Party, had every opportunity to participate in the National Consultative Forum organised by the Technical Committee, either chose not to, or else failed to attend these forums where he would have put across his arguments or views on the issues he now puts across to the President as reason to delay the enactment of our new, or amended constitution.
He says General Miyanda, having been a member of parliament for 10 years and, as Vice President of the Republic, was leader of House, is aware of the further opportunities available to him to present his views to the National Assembly itself, as a citizen and as leader of a recognised political party.
He says Zambians can only surmise that General Miyanda’s petition should not be taken seriously, except for its dramatic effect in making Zambians aware that the National Assembly has in fact sent the two constitutional bills to President Lungu for his assent.
He adds that his organization considers Brig. Gen. Miyanda’s call to President Lungu “to facilitate a national indaba”, to be nothing more than a seasoned politician asking for another opportunity to do what politicians do best, that is, to talk endlessly. We readily accept that, that is their job!