Political parties should self regulate - Activist
GOVERNMENT, civil society and the church must avoid getting entangled in the regulation of political parties in Zambia, says Young African Leaders Initiative governance director Isaac Mwanza.
Mr Mwanza said political parties must be allowed to self-regulate just like the church, traditional leaders and professional bodies would not allow political parties to regulate them.
He said self-regulation was an important key in a democracy, which ought to be guided only by the law, as was standard procedure throughout the world.
He said YALI was satisfied with the manner in which the Ministry of Justice and Zambia Law Development Commission have handled the whole consultation process so far and was sure of success in the undertaking.
“YALI has played its part at the national convention in defending the rights of political parties to be guided by legislation that provides for self-regulation through the establishment of the Political Parties Board comprising of only members of political parties to the exclusion of others.
“We also ask other stakeholders from government, civil society, the church or any other entities to avoid the temptation of taking part in regulating political parties,” Mr Mwanza said.
He was commenting on the progression of the public submissions on the proposed bill under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice and the Zambia Law Development Commission.
Mr Mwanza explained that it was worth noting that despite the key benchmark already adopted there were a few reservations from Government representatives and the House of Chiefs on the composition of the Board for the political parties.
He charged that with the current progress so far made, it was reassuring to note the agreement by the National Consultative Forum to delete some provisions from the Bill that would provide for a Minister to issue statutory instruments on contents of their own party Constitutions.
And YALI has called for participatory politics under the bill, which would call for all parties to field candidates in all elections, adding that “we will also continue to advocate for the inclusion of a clause in the Draft Bill that will ensure that political parties that don’t field candidates in two consecutives elections are registered and provisions of Article 60 which have not been addressed by the Bill”.
They have since called on all political parties and the Government to provide support to the process, despite any reservations expressed by stakeholders, and render any necessary help, support and expertise to the political parties in their quest to come up with an agreed Bill that would regulate the political parties.