More join petition to limit MPs’ terms

TEN more citizens have asked to be joined to the petition for the National Assembly to debate the limitation of tenure of office for Members of Parliament and Councillors.

Audrey Mwape on behalf of nine others submitted a letter requesting to be joined to the petition filed by Isaac Mwanza calling on the House to debate extending term limits to all elective constitutional office holders from the Republican President and Mayors and council chairpersons who have limited tenures of two -5-year terms to MPs and Councillors as well.

Ms Mwape said on behalf of other citizens they have requested “the House to debate a motion limiting the tenure for Councillors and MPs to two terms of 5 years each or, alternatively, delete provisions that limit the tenure for Mayors, Council Chairpersons and the President.”

She explained that the people of Zambia would like the National Assembly to address the matter at all levels, to allow citizens and lawmakers to either limit or remove any limitation of tenure of office to all elective office holders including President and Mayoral positions.

“It is thus our considered view that our honourable Members of Parliament will rise above their partisan divide and self-interest to debate a motion that, we emphasise, is not intended to debate themselves but to debate constitutional provisions which may have a good impact on the future governance of this country.

Ms. Mwape and ten others namely Monta Chisanga, Brighitte Njovu, Kenneth Kasenge, Misozi Nyirenda, Janet Mwaba, Chilonga Munyengwe and David Musonda among others have insisted that MPs ought to rise above partisan divide and self-interest to debate a motion, with emphasis that the petition was not intended to debate themselves but to debate constitutional provisions which may have a good impact on the future governance of this country.

Article 87 of the amended Constitution of Zambia and Order 160 of the Standing Order of the National Assembly have introduced new provisions which allow citizens of Zambia to initiate the enactment, amendment or repeal of legislation in the National Assembly.