HH IS AFRAID OF RUNNING MATE

STAKEHOLDERS CALLED UPON TO EMBRACE CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT BILL 2015 AS IT SERVES THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE NATION – ISSUED BY SUNDAY CHANDA, VICE CHAIRPERSON, PF MEDIA AND PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Lusaka, Zambia, 25th November 2015 – Patriotic Front (PF) is aware of schemes by the Opposition UPND to frustrate the Constitution Amendment Bill of 2015 because they are not ready for a running mate and 50+1 clauses, among others. As Zambians may be aware, in 2011, the UPND, after sitting and receiving allowances in the National Constitution Conference (NCC) U-turned at the 11th hour to collapse the MMD presented Constitution Bill. Under strict instructions from their Party leader Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, the UPND MPs will give a blind eye to the immense resources that the Constitution-making process has gobbled and will try all they can to fight the Amendment Bill of 2015.
The proposed amendments thus captured under the Bill undoubtedly captures what majority of Zambians have always demanded for and it is our hope that MPs will discern their duty to the nation without dragging this process unnecessarily by dwelling on periphery issues while paying the proverbial blind eye to the Bill’s contents. There is no on who can argue that the proposed amendments to the current constitution are retrogressive. The content of the Constitution Amendment Bill of 2015 is forward-looking and without malice or ill-intent.
Lastly, we wish to remind the UPND that it is unwise for them to work against the Constitution Amendment Bill of 20155 just because they want it to remain an issue unattended to in the next election. Zambians must also insist that the only law-making institution is Parliament and manouvers by some civil society groupings to arrogate to themselves the role of constitution-making and thereby seeking to usurp the powers of the legislature, is unacceptable. We challenge UPND to tell Zambians of the particular proposed amendments they are opposed to rather than dwelling on periphery issues. We are aware that their leader Mr. Hichilema does not want a Presidential running mate on his ticket, even though he has two Vice Presidents.
Issued by: Sunday Chanda, Vice Chairperson, PF Media and Publicity Committee