NEVERS MUMBA’S RESIGNATION FROM ACTIVE POLITICS – THE CURSE OF A BAD LAW
The law that withdraws benefits from a former Vice President because he or she is in active politics is a very bad law.
During the last sitting of Parliament when this bill came up, I dutifully submitted my objections in writing.
Let me reiterate my argument here. It is a bad law that serves no real purpose but ignores commonsense.
When someone is a vice or deputy, logically, they are next in line unless they do not have such aspirations.
Second, we introduced a running mate because we want them to take over in case number one is unable to discharge the functions for any number of reasons.
Third, anyone who accepts to be running mate is essentially putting their name forward for consideration as the next in line.
We created this position as a country to groom our next leaders. We invest in them when we thrust them in this position.
We don’t want to be searching long and hard when the term of the incumbent comes to an end. We would rather work with what we know already.
But by withdrawing benefits, we are unnecessarily asking them to choose between their personal social security and continued rendering of public service.
Why should we ask them to make such a choice? To what ends? What material breach occurs when they continue to receive benefits which are in recognition of a service already rendered while in active politics?
This has to be one of the most illogical laws on record!
I can only hope that this new parliament revisits this law but this time, give a lot of people – members of the public – an opportunity to weigh-in.
Right now, this law is a curse because it pours water on the political investment we make as a country in electing a running mate.
The law is very good and must stand. If you are getting pension benefits why continue working? When someone says i quit but I want to server in another capacity it is because they have negotiated for are negotiating an appointment.