‘Lubinda has no power to appoint new MCCs’
PF acting president Given Lubinda has no power to appoint new members to the party’s central committee, says governance expert McDonald Chipenzi.
Mr. Chipenzi said the observation by former PF secretary general Davies Mwila that there was no provision in the PF constitution that gives powers to the acting party president to appoint members to the central committee is valid.
Mr Chipenzi said Article 20 of the PF constitution provides that all organs of the party shall be elective and not appointed and wondered where Mr Lubinda who is acting president drew the power to appoint new members to the central committee.
He also said Article 46 of the same constitution provides that the general gonference was the only organ with the function of electing the President of the party and members of the central committee.
Mr Chipenzi said with regards to the appointment of additional MCCs, the PF Constitution under Article 61 was clear on the establishment of the central committee which shall consist of 30.
He said the 30 MCCs comprise of the party president, secretary general appointed by the president of the party from amongst the members of the central committee and 25 members elected by the general conference and only three members appointed by the party president.
Mr Chipenzi said with regards to filing in of casual vacancies in the central committee, Article 57(8) of the PF constitution provides that in the event of the MCC other than the President of the party resigning, being incapacitated, dying or otherwise ceasing to be the MCC, the national council shall elect another person to fill the vacancy and not the president.