Constitution lawyer John Sangwa says President Edgar Lungu does not qualify to contest the 2021 elections, reports Martha Banda.
Speaking on Public Discussion forum this evening broadcasted live on Prime TV monitored by Zambian Eye, Sangwa insisted that the constitution does not allow President Lungu to seek for reelection in 2021.
Sangwa explained that the interpretation by the Constitutional Court applies in the case of a Vice president who takeover serves less than three years of his predecessor.
The prominent Lusaka lawyer and Law Lecturer explained that the Constitution is clear on the matter. He said the Constitution says one cannot seek election more than twice adding that the period one has served only applies to the Vice president.
Sangwa explained that President Lungu has twice been elected in 2015 and 2016 saying contesting 2021 will be unconstitutional.
He said it will be interesting to see how Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) will treat President Lungu’s nomination if he goes ahead to run for 2021.
Sangwa urged Zambians to ensure the Bill 10 is not enacted as it will be difficult to challenge President Lungu’s nomination. He said Zambians will have an opportunity to challenge President Lungu’s nomination within seven days after filing in.
ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nchidano who was on the panel said it will be easy to handle President Lungu’s nomination because the statutory are clear.
When asked by someone in the audience to categorical on whether President Lungu qualifies to contest 2021, the Director said the ECZ legal team will advice when time comes.
You really surprise me that u hv hope that PF will win next 2021 elections. Am sure Lungu is already briefed that he won’t win! There are so many areas of failure but allow me to just pick on one. VIOLENCE. For the first time in the history of our country, violence has gone from PF cadres to every home at country wide scale! The same cadres PF trained will one day turn against them!
You shpuld seriously consider what Lawyer Sangwa is telling you instead of insulting him.
Constitutional lawyer John Sangwa appears to be a surrogate of the opposition upnd. Iam reliably informed that he has been promised to become Minister of Justice in the unlikely event that hh wins in 2021.He has become so blinded with the illusion of becoming minister to the extent where he has stopped using his legal mind correctly.
I thought this matter was a forgone conclusion having been clarified by the concourt.so let sangwa appeal to the concourt instead of bringing unnecessary confusion.we are told he is a constitutional lawyer so why is failing to understand what is very clear even from a layman’s point of view. So wasting our time. Can we move on to something developmental
It is high time Zambians woke up. How can we allow constitutional changes twice in 4 years? Is our sacred constitution, a document we can allow the ruling party to amend at will? The answer is NO!
Can you trust PF & Bill#10, when the 2016 amendment, PF duped us! Their emphasis was on 50 plus one. But the real & actual amendment they wanted was to make ECL eligible to stand in 2021, that is the parentage clause. Our previous constitution only allowed one to stand if both parents were Zambians by birth.
By removing this clause, did Lungu qualify to stand in 2016? Why was the parentage clause amended? Can Zambians trust PF again to amend our constitution through Bill#10?
We are in for a rude shock! Zambians for once stand up for your rights!
The Sangwa reasoning is one dimensional and absurd. As to the Bill in question, Mr Sangwa should urge his MPs to debate the Bill and in the process persuade other MPs across the House to vote their way.
That’s the convention. Walk outs are dereliction of duty.
The cnstitution needs to come out clear between to terms and having to be sworn in twice. On serving two terms ECL still qualifies but when it comes to being sworn in twice he doesn’t. Which is which? Can we learn from our legal minds please?