RESOLVE ILLEGALITIES BEFORE YOU LET MILES SAMPA EXERCISE POWERS
…You risk legitimizing his illegal position…
“PF MUST CAREFULLY NAVIGATE RELATED LEGAL ISSUES TO ENSURING COMPLIANCE DURING PARTY RECONCILIATION PROCESSES”
Illegalities should never be condoned, regardless of the individual or organization involved, whether it is the UPND, PF, or any other group. As Zambia functions as a constitutional democracy with a multi-party system, it is essential to adhere to the rule of law to ensure all party activities are conducted within legal boundaries. Upholding these principles fosters accountability and fairness in the political system.
The PF party has been openly known to be embroiled in internal disputes, leading to the formation of two factions aligned with Former President ECL and Matero Member of Parliament MBS, respectively.
The faction aligned with the Matero lawmaker held a conference and elected a supposed leader. Questions were raised regarding the validity of the conference according to the PF constitution. Subsequently, when the installed faction leader made appointments of the Leader of the Opposition and related Whips in Parliament, stakeholders pointed out the violation of relevant constitutional provisions and parliamentary standing orders. However, Speaker of the House recognized the appointments made by the faction leader as legitimate. This sparked further debate on the adherence to constitutional and parliamentary procedures regarding political appointments.
By validating these appointments, the government inadvertently allowed internal disputes within the PF party to influence parliamentary affairs, prompting questions about transparency and integrity in the democratic process in parliament.
Recently, there has been an interesting development in the PF party, as a communique on social media suggests that the two factions have come to a compromise. This is a promising step for democracy, especially since the PF is the largest opposition party in Zambia. However, there has been a new development as the faction leader, who is also the member of parliament for Matero, has made changes to the office bearers of Secretary General and Deputy. Furthermore, new appointments have been made for Leader of the Opposition and related Whips in parliament, which goes against the previous stance on illegalities.
The other faction’s acceptance of these appointments raises concerns about the consistency and integrity of the PF in upholding the rule of law within internal politics. How does the PF justify the appointment of parliamentary office bearers by a member deemed illegitimate as PF President, especially when the constitutional court has ruled that Hon. Brian Mundubile remains a substantive office bearer?
While the reconciliation initiative is appreciated, it is important to ensure that personal agendas and illegal actions do not disrupt the process. Doing so could lead to unintended consequences and lengthen the reconciliation timeline. The PF party should have prioritized resolving legal and internal obstacles to reconciliation, rather than making insignificant appointments. By accepting appointments that are reportedly unlawful, the PF is jeopardizing its credibility when it comes to addressing constitutional and human rights violations by the UPND. The PF must navigate this situation carefully to maintain integrity and effectiveness in their efforts for reconciliation.
When striving for justice and upholding democratic values, it is imperative to avoid partaking in illegal actions to achieve political goals. Adhering to the principles of law is critical in promoting transparency, accountability, and political equality. It is important to always differentiate between right and wrong, without any exceptions or justifications.
The Struggle Continues
Sensio Banda
Former Member Of Parliament
Kasenengwa Constituency
Eastern Province