Reject scheme to personalise Constitution – Aka
By Thandizo Banda
VETERAN politician Dr Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika has warned the unfolding agenda to consolidate and personalise power through selective constitutional changes.
Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika was commenting on calls by ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) affiliates for more changes to the Constitution with focus on the presidential term.
He urged Zambians to unite to block any partisan, personalised amendments.
“The UPND agenda is clear. They are completely set to consolidate power by making constitutional changes tilted towards consolidating personalised power,” Dr Mbikusita Lewanika told The Mast in an exclusive interview.
He said such amendments were craftily done in such a way that the matter of interest was wrapped inside progressive clauses to blind unsuspecting citizens.
Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said the purpose of mixed-member proportional representation system (PR) was to balance governance systems to cater for less represented or marginalised groups, not to empower a president who was already advantaged.
“So, the members of the ruling party should not benefit because they are already advantaged,” he said.
Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika expressed concern that PR appointees, being at the mercy of appointing authorities, were vulnerable to abuse and manipulation to support selective, personalised bills tilted towards entrenching personalised leadership.
He accused the UPND government of turning the Zambian economy into what he termed a user-friendly economy for global capitalism.
Most African leaders were bribed with shares and other business deals.
“Africa’s struggle for independence, introduction of plural politics, power sharing and freedoms have been betrayed,” Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said.
He said the state had witnessed the politicisation of key institutions.
“We’ve also seen the politicisation of the police, army, Judiciary and other key institutions and complete dominance of the local government system and the undermining professionalism,” Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said.
“They are creating an environment for a single party dominance and destroying the balance of power in terms of branches of government.”
He warned that a constitution tailored around individuals and ruling party interests would undermine democracy and institutional independence, and urged citizens, the Church, civil society and political stakeholders to demand a people-driven, inclusive process.
Attorney General was quoted by one of the radio stations quoted him as saying any constitutional changes would come from the people.
