Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Green Party President Peter Sinkamba
The opposition Green Party has demanded that the PF Government respects the Constitution and adheres to the spirit of constitutionalism.
Green Party President Peter Sinkamba says the Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale recently declared that the PF Government will not regard elected Mayors and Chairpersons of Councils across the country as executive officials saying this unfortunate.
Mr. Sinkamba explains that from this declaration, it is now clear that insofar as the PF Government is concerned, Mayors and Council Chairpersons across the country will remain ceremonial.
He says in other words, these popularly elected officials shall not wield executive powers for their current term of office, as earlier envisaged, unless the decision of Government is challenged by way of seeking interpretation of the Constitution by the Constitutional Court in this regard is sought.
Mr. Sinkamba says the Constitution of Zambia of 2016 in Article 154 prescribes election and term of office for Mayors, Chairpersons, their deputies and Councillors.
He furthermore explains that the Constitution does not however state whether these functionaries shall wield executive powers or not.
The Green Party Leader says in similar fashion, the Constitution of Zambia does not expressly state anywhere that the President of Zambia shall be the executive president, the President wields executive functions.
Mr. Sinkamba has since demanded that the Government forthwith lets Mayors, Council Chairpersons and their Councillors perform their Constitutional functions as well as enjoy their entitlements without any further delays.