SIMUUWE URGES ZAMBIANS TO DEBATE PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMITS
UPND Media Director Mark Simuuwe has called for an open debate among Zambians on presidential term limits, arguing that citizens should be free to discuss governance matters affecting the country.
Mr Simuuwe said Zambia had previously operated without presidential term limits before the Constitution was amended following public debate.
He said there was nothing unusual about revisiting the issue, as the country had historically changed its governance framework through constitutional debates.
“Before we put the term limit in the constitution, there was a debate,” Mr Simuuwe said.
He also cited Zambia’s return to multiparty democracy as another example of major governance changes resulting from public debate.
Mr Simuuwe said democracy required citizens to freely discuss governance matters and participate in choosing their leaders.
“Democracy is also about allowing citizens to freely debate a governance matter. After all it is their country,” he said.
He further said citizens should be allowed to choose leaders of their choice without unnecessary restrictions.
Firstly,This debate is necessary and welcome. However, the right questions need to be asked in order for us as a nation to make the right informed decisions.
What is intriguing is what has caused this sudden need to walk towards this direction.
Would an extension of the Presidential term honestly address the real problems we currently face. These are undeniably, continuity, consistency, and realization of the projects introduced by the ruling political party.
This unfortunately, makes the political party in government the focus instead of the interest of the country. This I believe is where we need to work extra hard in coming up with an overall National strategic plan which speaks to where we want to be in 50 to 100 years in the future.
This is what we should be discussing about more vigorously because our focus won’t be about who is ruling the government but that each ruling party that comes into power is subject to the national strategic plan and not the other way round.
Which unfortunately is what we are going through. That’s why some ignorant and arrogant politicians want to reverse any project by their opponents without taking note of its necessity.
Therefore, let this debate answer the critical areas needing solutions such as continuity, consistency and actualization of projects introduced.
We need to have long term National strategic plan for the next 50 to 100 years. Period.This is what needs to happen.
Extensions may help temporary but eventually can become a nightmare if the wrong person gets into State house. It can become absolutely catastrophic and dangerous.
Calculated restraint is a necessary requirement.Besides there is no law against voting the same political party in power consistently if they prove to be needed.
The question of quality of leadership is something political parties need to begin to consider concerning a succession plan. This is also a serious discussions political parties need to have within their groupings.