Maravi

UPND members pushed for degree clause – Dora

UPND members pushed for degree clause – Dora
By Ernest Chanda
Wed 27 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT

MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya has disclosed that members of the United Party for National Development (UPND) sitting at the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) pushed vigorously for the Presidential qualifications.

Featuring on Radio Phoenix's Let The People Talk programme in Lusaka yesterday, Siliya said it was not right for anyone to blame the MMD on the clause requiring a Presidential candidate to have a minimum qualification of a first degree. She said the UPND insisted that the NCC should include the Presidential qualifications that were adopted recently.

“I think it's not good that we should point at a particular party or person on any clause adopted at the NCC. The MMD has not pushed any agenda because it is not possible for us alone to get a two-thirds majority. For example, the issue of the Presidential qualification within the NCC, most of the people who championed this most vigorously were the veterans and also members of the PF/UPND Pact through the UNPD," Siliya said.

"They are the ones that fully pushed the agenda for Presidential qualifications, and NGOs Non-Governmental Organisations. And those are also representing Zambians. In the business of governance, political parties have a very important role to play and we as the MMD see ourselves as a big stakeholder especially that we are in government. And we are there also to listen to what people are saying."

And Patriotic Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda accused the NCC delegates of shifting positions at the conference whenever it suited them.

"For me I vowed never to comment about the NCC because I'm not party to it. But because it is one of the issues we are discussing on this programme, I have no choice but to comment. We can see a tendency of shifting positions whenever it suits delegates at the NCC," Lubinda said.

"Because the issue of Presidential qualifications seemed to suit them, they passed it without any arguments. But because the issue of fifty per cent plus one did not suit them, they fought it vigorously. And now because they failed to reach the required threshold they decided to push it to the people through a referendum. Why go back to the people on matters where you have been unanimous?"

Meanwhile, responding to a Lusaka caller, Maimbo, on whether or not the country would have a new constitution before the 2011 general election, NCC spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis promised to do their part as a conference.

"On our part we can assure the listeners that we are finishing the NCC process. As you may be aware we have to do a lot of things as NCC. Once we are done with our deliberations, we have to submit a report to the minister of justice as prescribed by the NCC Act," said Zaloumis.

"So, we will do our part as NCC, and the government will also do its part. We've maintained our focus from the beginning, we've not been swayed. Our names have been put on the sledge that we have to come up with a new constitution. So, be assured that we shall finish the process because the public have complained that we have taken too long."

Labels: DORA SILIYA, NCC, PRESIDENCY, UPND

posted by MrK @ 8:59 PM