ECL’S CONFESSION OF BEING IN ACTIVE POLITICS: THE SILENT LONG-SHORT STORY
Recently, ECL’s admission that he was still politically active and a man of influence politically, has raised political eyebrows and washed out political lipsticks and facebpowder on many political commentators.
It has even attracted government reaction through Minister of Justice who has revealed that goverment has written to Cabinet over the issue with the possibility of cutting off the former President’s benefits.
The minister further disclosed in the Article carried by the NewsDiggers that ECL is still President of a political party, in this case PF.
Not knowing what ECL meant by being in Active Politics, his utterances are incriminating to him and offends the law which defines “Active Politics” to mean, under Chapter 15 of the Benefits of Former Presidents Act,
(a) the doing of any act indicating a person’s intention to hold elective or appointive office; or
(b) the holding of elective office or appointive office in a political party or in an organisation whose main aim is the furtherance of political objectives
By that statement from the former President, it meant the above by law and section 5(b) of the same law does not allow any former President to engage in active Politics or risk losing his/her entitlement such as security, salary, vehicles, residence among others.
The question therefore is, is it true ECL is still in active Politics especially that he announced his resignation through a letter to Secretary to Cabinet, last on 26 August, 2021!
Another question is, have the records at Registrar of Societies being amended and ECL does not appear as President of PF?
If the records still bear ECL as President of PF, then indeed, he is in active Politics and is not entitled to any benefit accrued to a former President.
Lastly, if ECL is not president on the Registar of Societies records, then PF is unnecessarily dragging the former President in active Politics and also undermining the Acting president, Given Lubinda.
It is politically incorrect for PF to be running to a retired president whose details are not in the Registrar of Societies records for any grievance yet the party president is around.
The earlier PF MPs and members accord Given Lubinda respect and recognition as one in charge of running the party, the better for the peace of the former President.
I submit
McDonald Chipenzi