Impeachment travesty

WHEN a people have no vision, they perish. The United Party for National Development (UPND) have no vision and have embarked on a mindless and illogical campaign that will not only undermine their credibility but erode the respect and integrity they enjoy among the ordinary Zambians. The impeachment of a President is not a matter to be taken lightly. It should be done with the gravitas and impetus that is in accord with the constitution and wishes of the people. Apart from the selfish, self-centred intense ambition of their leader, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, to assume office regardless and against the order of democratic practice, there is no permeable political motive for the exercise which is doomed to fail at great cost to the credibility of the UPND. It may indeed open new avenues of challenge to its credibility. Any motion of impeachment must be forged on the basis of consensus and general approbation of the populace. There is no convincing evidence that such consensus exists, least of all there is no evidence that Mr Hichilema has breached the social, economic and tribal divide that he enjoys to ensure that this reckless action will succeed. Mr Hichilema must reach out beyond his narrow geographical enclave as represented in the National Assembly to harbour any hope of unseating a popularly elected President. If anything, this attempt will by its very nature entrench the UPND as a party that promotes balkanisation on the basis of ethnic affiliation. This is exactly what the impeachment proposal by the opposition UPND spells. An act of inanity destined to fail and, in the process, undermine the very tenets of democracy on which this country has been built. The integrity and credentials of the opposition will be exposed as selfish endeavours directed by their leader Mr Hichilema whose sole desire to secure power at all costs is now a danger to the security, stability and progress of the country. Impeachment by definition is a charge of misconduct made against the holder of a public office. To succeed, Mr Hichilema must prove that President Lungu acted outside the remit of office. The charges advanced thus far are illogical and totally lacking in credence and sustainability. Firstly, the Presidency is a creation of statute just as is the legislature to which Mr Hichilema’s party belong. Procedurally therefore, the President must act outside his remit as Head of State to be impeached. His election was constitutional and mandate endorsed by the Constitutional Court. There is absolutely no discernible basis to suggest that power should have been surrendered as such circumstances did not exist to warrant this. This suggestion is at best otiose. Finally, decisions taken by the Cabinet are defended by public policy norms.