HH not influencing anyone to remove presidential term limits -- Mwiimbu

‎...says the executive respects the rule of law, the separation of powers and will therefore not interfere with the National Assembly in handling the calls for abolishing the presidential term limit ‎By BARNABAS ZULU ‎PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND have not influenced any Zambian to launch the campaign for the removal of the presidential term limits from the Constitution and will therefore not block the submissions by Zambians to have an open-ended presidential term, Jack Mwiimbu has said. ‎Mr Mwiimbu, the Justice Minister says Government will not interfere with three petitions submitted to Parliament by some UPND sympathisers seeking the removal of the presidential term limit provision from the Constitution. ‎Mr Mwiimbu has explained that citizens had the constitutional right to petition Parliament, while the decision on how to handle the petitions rested exclusively with the National Assembly. ‎Speaking during a media briefing yesterday to give Government's official position on the matter, Mr Mwiimbu said the Executive had taken note of the three petitions seeking the removal of Article 106(3) of the Constitution and make the presidential term open-ended. ‎"We have taken cognisance of the three petitions submitted by Zambians to the National Assembly, requesting Parliament to consider the removal of the Presidential Term Limit provision under Article 106(3) of the Constitution," he said. ‎He said any attempt by the Executive to interfere with Parliament's procedures would be unconstitutional. ‎"The Executive Arm of Government respects the rule of law and any attempt to interfere in the procedures of the National Assembly will in itself be unconstitutional. Therefore, the Executive does not intend whatsoever and will not interfere in a process that falls within the jurisdiction of the legislature," he said. ‎He said Government remained committed to constitutionalism, democracy, the rule of law and the separation of powers. ‎Mr Mwiimbu said citizens were entitled to exercise their constitutional right to petition Parliament and that the National Assembly was the appropriate institution to address the matter. ‎He said Government remained focused on improving the economic wellbeing of Zambians through its Grow Zambia Agenda and would not be distracted by political speculation surrounding the petitions. ‎Mr Mwiimbu urged politicians to exercise responsible leadership and avoid misleading the public over the matter. ‎"Therefore, we will not be diverted by political speculation and in that regard, we call upon all politicians to exercise responsible leadership, avoid misleading the nation and respect the democratic rights of the people," he said. ‎Mr Mwiimbu also urged Zambians opposed to the petitions to trust the constitutional institutions and procedures mandated to consider them.

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