UPND abusing Parliament procedures- Siliya

government spokesperson,

Dora Siliya.

Ms Siliya told a media briefing that the impeachment motion by the United Party for Nation Development (UPND) is a baseless political gimmick being championed by a selfish person who is refusing to accept the will of the people.

The impeachment, she said, is being used as a tool to scandalise the President because the reasons being advanced are baseless, toothless and do not meet the standard for such an action.

The minister maintained that the motion was misconceived and also represented an egregious attempt to abuse the procedures of the National Assembly as well as the remedy of impeachment. “The allegations taken severally or as a whole do not amount to any impeachment offence recognised in any system of government,” Ms Siliya said.

She observed that the motion submitted by the opposition after examination neither fell within the scope of impeachable offences nor met the test of substantiality of an impeachment motion.

Ms Siliya added that the allegations under Article 1.4 in the submission did not impute any wrong doing on the part of the President.

“The allegations should have stated sufficient evidence, particularly the President’s actions or offence, the President cannot be impeached for doing acts which the constitution or any law has submitted to his discretion. Meanwhile, Ms Siliya has assured that the government and the President were ready for the dialogue process and that the impeachment motion will not derail government in any way.

Further, she explained, under article 108 of the constitution of Zambia, a member of Parliament may move a motion of impeachment on the following grounds;

a. A violation of a provision of this constitution or other law

b. A crime under international law; or c. Gross misconduct. And not only violation or gross misconduct amounts to an impeachment offence. There are adequate safeguards in the constitution and other laws to protect the public from breaches of the constitutions or other laws.

She added that in sum total of things, the opposition by the fact of their existence were there to offer checks and balances and offer alternative development programmes to the electorate.