Political Parties Bill a must, says Kamba
By BENNIE MUNDANDO IT is important to enact the Political Parties’ Bill to safeguard national security as hiding funders of political parties puts the sovereignty and security of Zambia at risk, Kennedy Kamba has observed.
Mr. Kamba said the issue on political party sponsorship had been long overdue hence the need to pass the bill.
Mr Kamba, the Lusaka Province youth chairman was commenting on calls by some stakeholders to halt the ongoing consultative process on the Political Parties' Bill and wait for the outcome of the dialogue and reconciliation process facilitated by the Commonwealth as the two processes may come up with different results if ran consecutively.
He said while the sponsorship of political parties by foreign entities seemed a harmless undertaking on face value, there were glaring consequences that came with the concealment of such financial aid on the security of the country.
Mr Kamba said it was important for Zambians to know who was funding which political parties so that they understood the basis of a given party's existence to allow them make sound decisions which had a good bearing on the governance of the country.
"The political Parties' Bill is important. We cannot continue to have a situation where foreign entities which we do not know continue funding political parties especially when such have a hidden agenda on what they intend to get out of this country for their support.”
He said it would be dangerous if people with a hidden agenda continue to fund political parties without the country knowing them.
Mr Kamba said openly declaring who is sponsoring which political party will enhance transparency in the way we do our politics in Zambia.
“We don't want to sell this country to foreigners who have the financial muscle to aid some political parties to get to national leadership and in turn help them loot our resources," Mr. Kamba said.
He called on Zambians to push for the enactment of the bill because it was progressive and will provide a level playing field which hinged on transparency.