Maravi

MMD accountable only to itself, says Tilyenji

MMD accountable only to itself, says Tilyenji
By Moses Kuwema
Mon 08 Aug. 2011, 12:00 CAT

Zambians for the last 20 years have been subjected to a regime that is not accountable to them but to itself, says UNIP president Tilyenji Kaunda. And the United National Independence Party (UNIP) yesterday became the first party to successfully file in their nominations for the 2011 elections.

And addressing his supporters after filing his nominations for the presidential elections slated for September 20, Tilyenji said good democratic governance was anchored on having a good constitution that protects the rights of every citizen and guarantees that no one is above the law.

“What this means is that Zambians for the last 20 years have been forced to live under the whims of a government regime that is not accountable to them but to itself,” he said.

Tilyenji said without a constitution that all Zambians could relate to and accept, the rule of man prevailed rather than the rule of law.

He said the MMD regime had lamentably failed to deliver a constitution that Zambians wanted and it was for this reason they should not be allowed to continue to preside over the affairs of the nation.

“The reason why corruption, hunger, poverty and unemployment are ever rising and have affected the development of our country is due to lack of a time-tested and durable constitution that is acceptable to all Zambians and properly safeguards their economic, social and political needs,” Tilyenji (right) said.

He said his party stood ready to provide Zambians with a constitution that would be acceptable to all stakeholders within six months after coming into office.

He said the strengthening of institutions that grew and protected the emergent democracy required that the issue of the constitution for the public be the priority for any new government and that this was his party's immediate task if the came into power.

And UNIP, who were led by party president Tilyenji, his vice president Njekwa Anamela and secretary Kenneth Kaira, among others, arrived at the Supreme Court grounds in readiness for the filing in of nominations around 10:40 hours.

After going through all the processes of filing before the Chief Justice and Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson, justice Irene Mambilima declared that Tilyenji had successfully filed in his nomination to stand as president in this year's polls.

According to the programme for the nominations, Forum for Democracy and Development and Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) party were scheduled to file nominations yesterday.

Labels: MMD, TILYENJI KAUNDA, UNIP

posted by MrK @ 7:42 PM