Maravi

Kunda, MMD protest against loan terms clause adoption

Kunda, MMD protest against loan terms clause adoption
Written by Ernest Chanda and Katwishi Bwalya
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 11:40:27 PM

VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda on Tuesday led fellow government and MMD members in protest against the NCC decision to adopt a clause in the Mung'omba draft constitution which compels government to disclose to the National Assembly terms and conditions of any loan they want to contract. This was after the majority of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) members adopted the clause.

Article 312, Clause 3 (a) of the Mung'omba draft constitution states as follows: "That the terms and conditions of the loan shall be laid before the National Assembly and shall not come into operation unless they have been approved by a resolution of the National Assembly."

It was the third time in a week that the NCC had reached a stalemate on the matter.

As NCC chairperson Chifumu Banda announced that those in support of the clause were in the majority, Vice-President Kunda stood and beckoned other MMD and government officials to stand as they called for a division.

And the division was granted after about 126 people stood, including Vice-President Kunda. After Banda granted the division there was a round of applause and shouts of "ya, ya" from all those against the clause. At about 17:12 hours, Banda suspended the proceedings to facilitate for voting at 18:00 hours.

However, even after Banda promised to call for a vote at 18:00 hours, people were made to wait up until 20:15 hours when he adjourned the voting to Wednesday.

This attracted a sharp reaction from most of the delegates who complained that their time had been wasted. They said the NCC should have instead suspended the clause and debated other Articles from the Public Service Committee, which was next on the agenda.

Earlier during debates, foreign affairs minister Kabinga Pande proposed that the conference should either adopt the Mung'omba report in its entirety or take Clauses 1 and 2, then details be put in an Act of Parliament.

Pande's view was supported by Nchelenge National Democratic Front (NDF) member of parliament Ben Mwila who argued that contents in clause 2 sufficed what should be in the constitution. But Copperbelt UPND youth chairman Joe Kalusa argued that he did not want his children to suffer for debts whose conditions they did not know.

"As a youth I'm an interested party and I won't be intimidated by anyone. Ministers know that currently Zambia is the only country where money is borrowed without Parliament knowing. You can't borrow a loan without knowing the conditions," Kalusa argued.

"I don't want a loan which will say buy a mobile hospital first, or a hearse before contracting it. If we fail here let's take it to a referendum."

Mapatizya UPND member of parliament Ackson Sejani contended that the clause if maintained would instill accountability in the government.

"I stand firmly with those in support of the clause. What we emphasise is not separation of powers but accountability. When it comes to accountability, I have no compromise and I believe accountability is more important than the separation of powers," said Sejani.

"This clause cannot be left to the whims of those in power because they will either trash it or ignore it. Where are the Freedom of Information Bill and The Independent Broadcasting Authority Bill this government promised to take to Parliament? These are some of the lessons we should learn when we leave everything to those in power."

Labels: CHIFUMU BANDA, CONSTITUTION, DOMESTIC DEBT, GEORGE KUNDA, MMD, NCC, PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS

posted by MrK @ 10:43 PM