Veteran politician Dr Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika has warned of an unfolding agenda to consolidate and personalise power through selective constitutional changes. He was commenting on calls by ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) affiliates for further changes to the Constitution focused on the presidential term.
Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika urged Zambians to unite to block any partisan, personalised amendments.
“The UPND agenda is clear. They are completely set to consolidate power by making constitutional changes tilted towards consolidating personalised power,” he said.
He said such amendments were craftily designed, with the real matter of interest wrapped inside progressive-sounding clauses meant to blind unsuspecting citizens.
Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said the purpose of the mixed-member proportional representation (PR) system was to balance governance by giving voice to less represented or marginalised groups, not to further empower a president who was already advantaged.
“So, the members of the ruling party should not benefit because they are already advantaged,” he said.
He expressed concern that PR appointees, being at the mercy of the authorities who appoint them, were vulnerable to abuse and manipulation in support of selective, personalised bills tilted towards entrenching one leader’s hold on power.
Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika accused the UPND government of turning the Zambian economy into what he termed a user-friendly economy for global capitalism, alleging that most African leaders had been bribed with shares and other business deals.
“Africa’s struggle for independence, introduction of plural politics, power sharing and freedoms have been betrayed,” he said.
He said the State had witnessed growing politicisation of key institutions. “We’ve also seen the politicisation of the police, army, Judiciary and other key institutions, and complete dominance of the local government system and the undermining of professionalism,” Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said.
“They are creating an environment for single-party dominance and destroying the balance of power between the branches of government.”
He warned that a constitution tailored around individuals and ruling-party interests would undermine democracy and institutional independence. He urged citizens, the Church, civil society and political stakeholders to demand a people-driven, inclusive process for any further constitutional changes.
Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha has previously been quoted on radio as saying any constitutional changes would come from the people.