Reject term limit removal bid – Harrington
By George Zulu
FORMER commissioner on the Willa Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission William Harrington has urged Zambians to reject any attempt to amend the Constitution to accommodate undemocratic changes.
In an interview with The Mast, Harrington said the promotion of amendments to the constitution for the inclusion and removal of presidential term limits was retrogressive.
“I was privileged to serve as a commissioner on the Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission appointed by the late third republican president Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa and therefore, please, note my interest. President Mwanawasa gave the commission extensive terms of reference. Not least amongst them was that the commission should propose a constitution that would stand the test of time,” he said.
Harrington said the commission traversed the country, at great cost to taxpayers, to get submissions from concerned citizens.
Amongs the most critical issues was the presidential tenure in office.
“Citizens are implored to research on the submissions made to the commission on this matter as contained in its report. It will be noted that the overwhelming majority of petitioners very clearly, emphatically and categorically submitted that the presidential term of office should be limited to two five-year periods as a safeguard against dictatorship,” he said.
Harrington said an unlimited presidential term of office was a recipe for one-party rule, autocracy and dictatorship.
He said Zambians fought against the one-party state by introducing multiparty democracy in 1991.
“Once the president assumes office, he or she will use the advantage of incumbency and state institutions and machinery to rig an election and remain in office to the disadvantage of all other contestants. Lessons abound in certain parts of the world and particularly in Africa,” Harrington said.
“I will not speculate as to what has now changed and who or what has instigated this current debate on the presidential term of office. Yes, the Constitution of Zambia provides for freedom of speech, expression and conscience. What is, however, important is that citizens need to debate this matter from an enlightened and educated standpoint,” he said.
The United Party for National Development (UPND) has mounted a robust campaign for the amendment of the Constitution to remove the two-term limit for the presidents.
The ruling party strongly opposed the extension or removal of the presidential term limit from the Constitution saying it was dictatorial.
