IGNORANT MILUPI SLAMMED

POLITICAL stakeholders have accused ADD leader, Charles Milupi of being ignorant and malicious for suggesting that President Edgar Lungu was serving his second term of office.

Mr Christopher Chomba said that the constitution was very clear that an office holder would not be deemed to have served a term of office as President if, at the

date on which the President assumed office, less than three years remain before the date of the next general election.

The Constitution further stated in Article 106 (6)(a) that a person would only be deemed to have served a full term as President if, at the date on which he assumed office, at least three years remain before the date of the next general election.

Mr Chomba however pointed out that President Edgar Lungu assumed office on 20th January, 2015 when the next election was due 1 year 7 months later, on August 11, 2016.

“The constitution therefore does not recognise 1 year 7 months as a full term of office for a President as it clearly states that “at least three years remain before the date of the next general election” from the time a President assumes office for it to be considered a full term,” he said.

“Even at a canteen, if this one orders a plate of nshima, let’s say at K10. Then after eating some he says, Muliokela come and finish the nshima, Should I pay too or the bill is for him?” Mr Muliokela questioned.

The Poor People’s Party (PPP) president said that President Lungu was eligible for the 2021 elections he had served less than 3 years.

Mr. Muliokela also explained that it would have been a full term if there was at least 3 years still remaining to the next election after President Lungu assumed office.

He said that there was nothing wrong with President Lungu contesting the 2021 general elections and that people who were questioning his eligibility were just scared to challenge him.

Mr Muliokela clarified that a full term was 5 years and that President Lungu was only completing former President Sata’s term in 2015.