Opposition Green Party Leader Peter Sinkamba says Zambia’s constitution has provisions for the country to go for early elections before the prescribed 5 years, as opposed to recent reports suggesting otherwise, according to Zambia Whistleblower.
Constitutional Lawyer John Sangwa State Counsel, was recently quoted in the media saying former President Edgar Lungu’s suggestion of an early election reveals ignorance of the law, noting that the current constitution does not provide for this.
However, Mr. Sinkamba, an active advocate for the referendum in 1990, and a former Constitutional Review Commissioner, argues that article 5 and article 81 of the constitution amendment 2016, accords the people of Zambia avenues to call for early elections.
Mr. Sinkamba says article 5 (3) allows Zambian citizens to demand for an early election before the constitutionally prescribed date, through a referendum that the head of state can initiate with a vote in the affirmative facilitating for general elections.
The Green Party Leader says alternatively, the president may dissolve parliament if there is an overwhelming demand by citizens for an early election, to cause a vote within 90 days of such a dissolution of Parliament.
Mr. Sinkamba explains that in the case of article 81, members of Parliament can compel the president to dissolve Parliament and cause a general election within 90 days, by making it difficult for the government to pass any bills or refuse to participate in any business of the house.
The talks about early elections started when former president Edgar Lungu last Sunday told a Church gathering that the current government of Hakainde Hichilema may not last upto 2026 when the next elections are scheduled to take place.