REVISIT RUNNING MATE CLAUSE – JERE
THERE is need to have a re-think on the running mate clause in the Republican constitution to avoid a constitutional crisis in future, former Presidential press aid in the Rupiah Banda led Government, Dickson Jere has said.
Commenting on the current differences in the opposition UPND between party president Hakainde Hichilema and suspended vice President Geoffrey Mwamba, Mr. Jere stated in his latest Facebook posting that the squabbles had brought to the fore the practicality of Article 110 of our Republican Constitution - the clause that introduced the Vice President as running mate.
''Just imagine if UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema won the 2016 presidential vote and Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) as his running mate was his Vice President, the internal party squabbles, would have presented a constitutional crisis for the country, as the resident cannot fire his running mate or Vice President," wrote the Journalist cum-lawyer.
He said as the national dialogue starts deliberations on the Constitution next week, the running mate clause must be re-looked given the lessons learnt so far.
He said even in Malawi where they have a similar running mate clause, all the three running mates who became Vice Presidents of Malawi ended up differing with the sitting President.
''For example, President Bingu Wa Mutharika had to send his running mate and Vice President Cassim Chilumpha to prison for treason but he remained VEEP while in remand prison.
''In his second term, Mutharika differed with his new Vice President Joyce Banda. He kicked her out of the ruling party but she remained constitutionally a Vice President of Malawi even after she formed her own party," said Mr Jere.
Currently President Peter Wa Mutharika has differed with his Vice President Saulos Chilima.
Mr Jere said in Zambia, the running mate clause appears to be working largely because the current Vice President Inonge Wina was not power hungry and appears to be elderly, mature and reserved.
''Mama Wina is not power hungry as was the case with Malawi Vice Presidents. She keeps to her lane. Imagine having a Vice President with naked presidential ambitions, friction will be the order of the day.
Mr. Jere said Zambian political parties have had problems with Vice Presidents giving the former ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) as an example which had to freeze the veep post, twice, at the convention.
He said the freezing was aimed at bringing harmony in the party adding that even the PF in opposition, operated for very long time without a Vice President and that the troubles in UPND are not new.