MWANZA WARNS AGAINST EXTENDING PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMITS Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Antonio Mourinho Mwanza has warned against attempts to extend Zambia’s presidential term limits, arguing that constitutional safeguards are necessary to prevent excessive concentration of executive power. Mwanza, who was speaking on Conversations with Hope on Capital FM 99.7, said the debate over presidential […]

MWANZA WARNS AGAINST EXTENDING PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMITS

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Antonio Mourinho Mwanza has warned against attempts to extend Zambia’s presidential term limits, arguing that constitutional safeguards are necessary to prevent excessive concentration of executive power.

Mwanza, who was speaking on Conversations with Hope on Capital FM 99.7, said the debate over presidential term limits was not new, noting that similar attempts had been witnessed under previous administrations, including the MMD and PF governments.

He said successive constitutional review processes had demonstrated that Zambians wanted presidents to serve a maximum of two five-year terms.

“This issue is not new. We saw it under President Chiluba, when there were attempts to push for a third term,” Mwanza stated.

He said he had embarked on radio programmes because proponents of extending presidential tenure had become increasingly vocal, warning that silence could allow the agenda to gain ground.

Mwanza rejected arguments that presidents needed longer periods in office to develop the country, saying Zambia’s history showed that lengthy tenure did not automatically translate into development

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“We gave UNIP 27 years. Yet poverty remained a major challenge. We gave MMD 20 years. We gave PF 10 years,” he said.

He argued that national development should be anchored on institutions, policies, programmes and long-term objectives rather than the length of time an individual president remained in office.

“Development does not depend on how long one president stays in office. It depends on vision, policies, programmes, projects and objectives,” Mwanza emphasised.

He said Zambia should develop institutions and programmes capable of continuing beyond individual presidencies, citing China and India as examples of countries with long-term development planning.

Mwanza further opposed comparisons between presidential term limits and those applicable to mayors, councillors and Members of Parliament, arguing that the President wielded substantially greater constitutional authority.

“The President has executive authority. He is Head of State, Head of Government and Commander-in-Chief of the defence forces,” he stressed

He said such extensive powers required strong constitutional checks, including term limits, to prevent excessive consolidation of political authority.

“That is enormous authority. And precisely because that authority is enormous, it must be checked, limited and contained,” Mwanza said.

He also questioned when younger Zambians would have opportunities to lead if political power remained concentrated in the hands of the same individuals.

“This country does not belong to one president or one political party. It belongs to all of us,” he stated.

Mwanza urged Zambians to remain central to any constitutional discussion concerning presidential tenure, warning against designing the Constitution around one individual, political party or generation.

“We must design it for Zambia and for generations yet unborn,” he stressed.