Technically, ECL illegally stood for a third term in defiance of our Constitution. The courts only established his ineligibility after he had already contested the election.
He contested in 2015, 2016 and 2021. Three times.
His case is an example of why the removal of presidential term limits, by itself, would not necessarily guarantee anyone a perpetual stay in power. Ultimately, the people of Zambia would still have the power to decide who leads them at the ballot box.
And if you ask me whether I support the Idea to remove term limits or not, my position would be that, 10 years is well enough for anyone to leave a lasting legacy.
Thank God, my President HH, is one of the few leaders on this continent, who doesn’t subscribe to this idea.
One of his reasons for not supporting removal of term limits is that, it is one of the leading causes of autocracy and conflict.
By Proff Mutti