Sun, 05 Nov 2017 11:39:12 +0000
By CHIKUMBI KATEBE
GOVERNMENT will take into consideration proposals to amend the Republican Constitution in relation to the limitation of terms of office for elective positions, says lead petitioner Isaac Mwanza.
Mr Mwanza said on behalf of the 22 petitioners, who sought Constitution amendments to provide for term limits for all elective offices, that Government had shown interest in taking the necessary considerations on the matter.
He said the response from the Attorney General on the matter was evidence of Government’s commitment to the open door policy in law reforms in Zambia.
“The 22 Petitioners have welcomed the consideration by the Attorney General who stated that they are willing to have an honest national debate on term limits.
“Our advice to the Ministry of Justice is for them to quickly finalise the draft Bill and subject it to public comments between December 2017 and January 2018 before it can be taken to Parliament,” he said.
In a letter dated November 1, 2017, Attorney General Likando Kalaluka indicated that Government would most certainly consider the petitioners’ proposals with regards to term limits for all elective positions.
And Mr Mwanza has called on Members of Parliament to support the Government in the current Constitution reforms and avoid frustrating the exercise meant to support equity in the governance system.
“We feel our main opposition in Parliament, the UPND must work with Government to have the Constitution amended during the first half of 2018 if Zambia is to prepare for credible elections in 2021.
“The opposition parties should not be seen to frustrate this process because amending the Constitution now is in the best interest of levelling the playing field ahead of 2021 and future elections,” he said.
He said members of the House must support amendments which were meant to redefine the term limits on all elective positions.
The petition to debate term limits for constitutional office holders was first lodged in the National Assembly in September 2017 but Parliament referred the matter to the Ministry of Justice for a more holistic approach with other amendments.
