In a media statement authored by NGOCC Executive Director, Engwase Mwale, the organisation advised Lungu to asses the ground and understand how divided this nation is before before coming up with such ideas.
“The proposal by the PF national management committee member, Mr. Paul Moonga to extend the Presidential term, is the highest display of arrogance by the named, being one of the senior members of the ruling party. It is becoming abundantly clear that the PF are fast losing touch with the grassroots, who are the electorates and not helping with the process of healing the current tension grappling the nation,” Mwale said.
“It is abundantly clear that the just ended August 2016 elections was highly divisive and it is therefore NGOCC’s expectation that President Edgar Chagwa Lungu should not tolerate such a pronouncement which runs against the moral aspirations of our nation and indeed the very spirit of the constitution that our leaders swore to uphold.”
Mwale says her organisation is vehemently opposed to the proposed mutilation of the Republican Constitution by the PF, adding that there is no justification whatsoever for the proposed extension.
“The reasons advanced by one PF national management committee member for the extension seem to be a sign that PF government is already failing to deliver on their promises within the five year constitutional mandate that has been charged to them by the people of Zambia.
“While progressive countries are working to reduce Presidential terms of office, Zambia seems to be fast sliding back to the dark ages of unconstitutionalism. NGOCC therefore calls upon Zambians to stand in unison and oppose this proposed extension forthwith. The United States of America President Barack Obama said when asked whether he would seek a third term, said: “This is a process in which the office should be continually renewed by new energy and new ideas and new insights” NGOCC is in agreement with the said sentiments as we strongly believe in the spirit of enhancing our democracy. In this regard we contend that there is need for the Presidency to regularly evolve in order to allow for rejuvenation of ideas and for new leadership to emerge,” she said.
Mwale appealled to Lungu to defend the constitution which he swore to protect by curtailing any further debate about this dim and unprogressive proposal.
“We also appeal to well-meaning Members of Parliament to oppose this motion if at all it should find itself on the floor of the House,”
Earlier last week, when asked to comment on Moonga’s proposal, if it is official PF position on the matter, Vice President Inonge Wina distanced the party and government from the proposal, saying it is his opinion and not of the party.
Wina added that every Zambian is entitled to their opinion on matters of national interest.
I wish that this would be looked into very carefully before implementing it and the house of August to rejected.
This should not be supported! It is not even about Moonga but the president himself must have sent that lowlife., and that is just the tip if an iceberg. Just wait and see what will happen to our country within the next five years after Lungu and Museveni finish scheming. This is the dununa reverse you were dancing to.. fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the rollercoaster!
Lungu is intended beneficiary and might as well be the initiator. Forget malume. Just pressure him to feel manyazi. Sata promised to deliver in 90 dsys. If they can’t cope with the pace it is shenya lutobeleka. Let Moonga quit; we’ve no time for time-wasters.
The 1715 UK Act that provided for a seven year term was changed to five in 1911. What PF is proposing through Moonga is a typical example of dununa reverse. Whereas many leaders seek positive development for their people, ours will be preocupied woth self preservation and ensuring everyone else remains backward by bringing forth all the discarded policies and ideas. Any slaggard leader or party that can’t produce results in five years should just move and leave space for serious individuals of the Sata calibre who promise development in 90 days.
why wasnt the same issue raised the time they were amending the constitution?fyabupuba fye ifyo iwe chimudala chi paulo
let God show us the right direction
God help us!!!
God always protects us…….plz 5 years is enough, so why do we need entention of the presidential tenure,……..think on behalf of the nation & the people when making such hillarious suggestions publicly..
Ba Moonga, the government has a lot of issues pertaining to poverty alleviation. Stop bringing your short site to the public.
the government is betrayin us the zambian people especially on the issue of 7years. 5years is just ok they can still do somthing. also on the issue of teachers they need to revisit their proposed ideas of removin holiday salaries coz its durin that period plan on how they are goin to teach reflect on where they went wrong and how to improve also teachers never close they continue with duty work pliz mr lungu never make such a mistake if wat we keep on hearin is true coz how the teachers goin to pay rentles when they dont get paid in that month and how ar they goin to feed themselves and dependants…. this is food for thought indeed
Extension is a destruction constitionalism
I strongly feel the extension of tenure is a worst idea at all leading a nation is not a platform of him proving to be a better president no but a platform of him to convince the people that he is the right person for Zambia no matter how short the period can be. As Zambian we need a president who can make decision for the betterment of the people of Zambia and not for their selfish reason no
the carent five years is enough if our late president can manage to change a country to a better country. .leadership is about the vision you have for that particular group, organization or a country if you don’t have vision were you what to take the people you are leading even if they give you 50 years nothing you I’ll do because you will be saying to your self that we still have time. … if you don’t have vision were to take the people you are leading just let others who have vision work. .
requesting the media to be updating me with the news.
If Such things happen,as in 7 years tenure. then violence will be made manifest in the streets of Zambia
Eish u pips get a lyf still complanin.hh will get his tym if God allows but 4 nw lungu is in charge u cant chnge tht
Thanks Lesa!
But, his term of Office was extended when the PF cabinet sneaked into the Constitution the provision to disregard any Term of less than three years gotten by way of by-election! Since Lungu’s first term was for less than three years, he is currently entitled for a Third Term, in 2021!
This is how manipulative PF can be!
They removed partial Proportional Representation, Regional Assemblies, Cabinet Outside Parliament, and they included a third term for their president!
I would have wanted them to include electable positions, by way of universal adult suffrage, of Regional/State Governors/Premiers with a five years mandate, in place of nominated Provincial Ministers, so that we start having pentapartite general Elections, instesd!
When a rat senses danger in its hiding hole, it will always try to dig deeper in order to extend its hole for safety’s sake. But sometimes it doesn’t work.
5 years is OK not 7 years Mr moonga.
Moonga Paul uli mubwa wamuchila