KBN TV EDITORIAL – STOP THE DISCREDITED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
We agree with Lawyer and former Executive Director of Chapter One Foundation, Linda Kasonde, that the constitution is at risk of manipulation for partisan interests.
We consider it a risk when the Head of State makes a unilateral statement that “we have agreed as a nation to change the constitution before 2026 elections” when his conscious betrays him that there is no consensus on the matter.
President Hakainde Hichilema’s statement on Women’s Day in Kasama raises very serious questions such as, why is the UPND administration so desperate to change the constitution before the elections?
What has the constitution got to do the 2026 elections?
Further, who did the President consult? When you carry out a quick media scan, you will discover that the Church, LAZ, CSOs, political parties and the citizens in general are not in agreement on this matter.
The only section of our society that seems to be singing louder in unison on this matter are die hard partisan cadres.
We would like to caution that you can’t deal with a national matter as important as the constitution from narrow partisan interests.
Yesterday’s badly written argument in support of the rushed Constitutional amendment by Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Commissioner, Mcdonald Chipenzi, raises even more concerns about a potentially predetermined outcome.
As someone said, the statement attributed to Chipenzi is a pedestrian interpretation of the Constitution which is not only misleading but very dangerous.
It just demonstrates the partisan nature of ECZ Commissioners. Chipenzi must not lie to himself that he can mislead the nation.
Even a grade one knows the difference between reviewing and amending the constitution. For his benefit, Chipenzi must be reminded that reviewing the names and numbers of wards and constituencies is not the same as delimitating the names and numbers of wards and constituencies.
Further, amending the Constitution every 10 years as Chipenzi seems to be suggesting can not guarantee the nation a Constitution that will stand the test of time.
Rushing to amend the constitution on flimsy Constitutional provisions is total deception. The President knows it, Chipenzi knows it, MPs know it too!
Talking about MPs, the current composition of some members of Parliament leaves much to be desired. We all know that strange things have happened involving some members of Parliament that suggests that some of them have become less than honourable to protect the constitution.
There’s is every possibility suggesting that some MPs can not resist the temptation to vote in favour of the unwanted Constitutional amendments in exchange for some form of gratification.
What’s wrong with building concensus on the so called noncontentious issues and if the UPND is very certain of retaining power after 2026, why not make this your priority item post elections?
The relentless push to amend the constitution before the 2026 elections without consensus raises alot of suspicion.
It’s the lack of consensus that’s even fueling spececulation about using delimitation to rig elections, others have even gone to suggest that clauses such as 50+1 percent, Presidential term limit and running mate, could be targeted in the proposed rushed amendment.
Lastly, the very fact that Chipenzi has rushed to comment on a discredited proposed constitutional amendment, says alot about what should be expected in 2026.
As some citizens have submitted, if the opposition doesn’t mount pressure to oust Chipenzi and Zaloumis from ECZ, then they should even forget about 2026 because those UPND cadres cannot deliver any credible election that would disadvantage their own party.
Useless KBN and its owner Kevin Mambwe. We live in a democracy and we shall go ahead and do what needs to be done. Mambwe is a known PF cadre and we are not going to be listening to an opposition cadres espousing his party affiliated motives when we are in government. Why postpone what we can do now to the next parliament. Since it is necessary, let us do it now. Useless people like Kevin Mambwe will never agree on a UPND development agenda.
It is mind boggling people like Chilyata exist in Zambia!! God help us!!
Imagine this Chilyata a member of Parliament!!!
Likewise, it’s mind boggling to have your likes existing in mother Zambia!
Useless government and its cronies, putting their selfish interests first so they can prolong their stay in power indefinitely. They have failed to fulfill their promises, now they want to turn our country into an animal farm.
Reject tribalism, corruption and oppression.
God bless Captain Ibrahim Traore, a real president that gets the job done.
Vote wisely in 2026.
The constitution must be amended without fail alot of bad laws and lacuna must be removed.
When the man wanted to introduce draconian laws on Hate Speech, the Zambian people rose up …. the Church, Civil society and opposition political parties all spoke with one voice and the man’s evil intentions were laid bare. He quickly went for cover.
He is back again with useless schemes to destroy our constitution..and our country to entrench his Misrule.
He first told us he wanted to address some lacunae in the constitution!
He then extended his schemes to delimitation..and manipulation’ of the population Census.
Now he has gone to Proportional representation…
Immediately some one touches Proportional Representation, then it becomes a massive exercise…both infrastructural and Human resources.
It increases the number of MPs, brings in Provincial Assemblies , which is a prelude to a federal structure…it develops into Coalition Government and the 50+1 falls off.
This is the man we are dealing with…
With the Church, independent Media and Civil society Organizations, Progressive Opposition political parties, the man can be stopped in his tracks.
He is a danger to our democracy.
Give him an inch he takes a yard
Give him a yard , he takes a mile
Give him a chair, he applies glue onto his buttocks…to sit there permanently.
What a man!
We’re you speaking about ECL? Did he listen when he was told the constitution had lacunae? Did he listen when he was told the cyber law was bad? Did he? Why are you not listening to the fact that this country is too big? Why can’t for once just listen with your whole senses instead of also aurging from a deeply flawed partisan stance you are condemning?
I NEED TO STAND IN 2026 AS AN MP FOR MUSENGA IN CHINGOLA CONSTITUENCY BUT WITHOUT DILIMITATION I CAN’T THAT IS WHY WE MUST AMMEND THIS ROUTINE PF BOGUS CONSTITUTION SO THAT CHINGOLA CAN HAVE THREE CONSTITUENCIES.
1. NCHANGA CHILUNDIKA 2026
2. CHINGOLA CHIPOKA 2026
3. MUSENGA CHONGO MAN OF GOD 2026
WE MUST AMMEND.
It is a good thing for a purpose- constitution amendment. Indeed some of the clauses in the constitution need amendment whatever these PF KBN crooks will say amendment is a must. Some of the clauses to be amended,
1. Where the nominees for a particular constituency if one withdraws from the race the elections have to be cancelled, bad one if one withdraws others can continue no need of wasting time and even money in case of already printed voting papers being printed and if one withdraws be it at ward level, parliamentary level or presidential the remaining can still go ahead without conducting new nominations and paying for such ballot papers again. We have to change the clause.
2. The 14 days during presidential elections pertition. The 14 days to be clearly known if (a) the 14 days included the holidays / and weekends in working . Or (b) the 14 days does not include the holidays/ or weekends and if so does the 14 days still adds up if you subtract holidays or otherwise
3. Splitting or delimitation of vast constituencies that are not benefiting equally especially with the increase in CDF because, for big constituencies the money that looks huge to some is just a drop in the ocean while in some small constituencies development is vissible.
4. Unless someone is fixed for violating the constitution during swearing in – like who is supppsed to swear in a President Elect , handing over power during presidential elections petition,this also has to be clarified or simplified.
5. If an Elected MP loses the case and seat in court for elections malpractices such a one needs not to stand again because of his or her dirty practiçes including the issue of eligibility in general. So there are a number of clauses that needs amending.
So these foolish out-dated pefu thieves should just be let fees on their filthy mouth, these are the enemies of progress has no value let thieves continue stealing their own words, it is good for them.