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The Presidency has accused Socialist Party leader, Dr Fred M’membe, of planning to abolish the Zambian constitution, rule by decree if elected as president in 2026.
State House Chief Communications Specialist, Clayson Hamasaka, alleged that M’membe and his party were propagating an idea of appointing Zambian traditional leaders into roles not provided for under the current constitution of the republic.
Hamasaka in a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday, said the Zambian constitution was very clear in terms of the role and place of the traditional leaders.
He noted that traditional leaders were important custodians of the national cultures, traditions and customs.
“It is for this reason that the United Party for National Development (UPND) government is investing heavily in the uplifting of their palaces including improving their conditions and benefits and those of their support staff,” Hamasaka stated.
He said the UPND government would, therefore, not trivialise the important position the traditional leaders hold in the country by reducing them to partisan politics as M’membe was doing, all in the interest of scoring cheap and dangerous political points.
Hamasaka emphasized that Chiefs play a very important role in safeguarding the national cultures and traditions and ultimately preserving the national identity and heritage.
“The UPND has no intention of reducing this solemn responsibility bestowed upon them as is being carelessly suggested by the well established power hungry, divisive M’membe who once labeled an entire tribe as a Bantustan,” he stated.
Hamasaka added that M’membe was back as he did when he ran his newspaper to try and divide the nation, all in the name of his short sighted hunt for votes.
He stated that the Zambian Constitution was very clear in terms of how the executive functions of the government are distributed.
“The Republican President, with his appointed Cabinet is mandated by the Constitution to execute all executive functions of the government, alongside the other two arms of government, these being Parliament and the Judiciary,” Hamasaka said.
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He argued that the spurious idea M’membe was suggesting, vis reducing the solemn role of Chiefs to menial government administrative work was not only disrespectful to them but also goes against the provisions of the constitution.
Hamasaka warned Zambians to be alert that M’membe had by his statements sent signals that in the very unlikely event that he ever gets elected as president, he would rule by decree and not as provided for in the constitution.
“M’membe intends to replace the supreme law of our land with his whimsical and personal petty ideas so he can introduce unconstitutionalism to our country,” he claimed.
He described M’membe as a danger to constitutionalism, the nation and that Zambians should stay awake against this professed and known divisive figure as his reputation of attempting to divide Zambians can be traced back to his failed newspaper days.
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