SCOTT STANDING BETWEEN FIRE AND A HARD ROCK The pendulum is changing so fast since 3rd November, 2014 as the MPs backing Hon. Edgar Lungu for PF President as Lungus support has today swelled to 70 MPs from 63, enroute to gathering the required two-thirds of Members of Parliament needed to dissolve Parliament, if the worst comes to bear. Should it come to that, then there would be Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential elections. The MPs, who believe that Dr Scott is auctioning Zambia to the highest bidder, have today dared Dr. Guy Scott that he has no choice but to go by the will of the people, from the 70 Constituencies, as at now. Short of 30 MPs to the list, Parliament can dissolve itself and a General election, scheduled for 2016, would come earlier, within 90 days from such self dissolution of Parliament. Scotts hands are tied by the Constitution as he cannot fire any one who was appointed by the Executive, since he is just an Acting President, care-taking the transition process. Scott, on his own, cannot dissolve Parliament as stated in Sub Article (1) (b) shall not dissolve the National Assembly and shall not, except on the advice of Cabinet, revoke an appointment that had been made by the President. Earlier this month, the Foundation for Democratic Process called for the dissolution of parliament to avoid going for another General election within two years of a Presidential poll. FODEP Executive Director Macdonald Chipenzi said if parliament were considerate they could cut short their term of office and go for polls alongside the Presidential poll to skip the 2016 general elections. Chipenzi said the forthcoming elections will be a huge drain on national resources. “Indeed the election is coming within 90 days going by article 38. But there is also an issue that we are proposing here that parliament can dissolve itself under article 88 so that we go for a General election,” he said. “If the two thirds majority members agree then it will dissolve itself. That will be one way of saving resources by allowing parliament to dissolve itself so that whoever is elected after 90 days or after the dissolution of parliament is there for a five year mandate.” He said, “So if we are to be constitutional and parliament would understand us, let’s go for dissolution and go for a general election
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 17:51:01 +0000
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