CHISHALA KATEKA QUESTIONS PUSH TO EXTEND PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMIT

CHISHALA KATEKA QUESTIONS PUSH TO EXTEND PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMIT New Heritage Party president Chishala Kateka has called for an open and transparent national debate on any proposal to extend the presidential term limit, questioning what problem such a fundamental constitutional change would seek to address. Ms Kateka said those who established the five-year presidential term […]

CHISHALA KATEKA QUESTIONS PUSH TO EXTEND PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMIT

New Heritage Party president Chishala Kateka has called for an open and transparent national debate on any proposal to extend the presidential term limit, questioning what problem such a fundamental constitutional change would seek to address.

Ms Kateka said those who established the five-year presidential term had done so for a reason and argued that any attempt to alter the arrangement should be supported by clear justification.

“Those who came before us thought about the five-year term and why it was established,” Ms Kateka said.

She said citizens should not be expected to accept constitutional changes simply because they were being proposed by those in power, insisting that the public deserved an explanation of what was allegedly broken.

“You have to tell the people what is broken, what you are trying to fix and why an extension is necessary,” she said.

Ms Kateka, who was speaking on Capital FM’s Conversations with HOPE, said legitimate proposals should be subjected to public scrutiny and debate.

“If the reasons advanced are genuine, reasonable and stand up to scrutiny, then they can be debated,” she said.

She also expressed concern over what she described as coordinated public messaging that could create the impression of widespread support for extending presidential tenure.

“People need to be aware of this pattern,” Ms Kateka said.

She questioned whether similar calls emerging from different parts of the country represented spontaneous public sentiment or an organised campaign aimed at influencing public opinion.

Ms Kateka further said Zambians should pay attention to other possible constitutional changes, including the 50-plus-one presidential election requirement, the running mate clause and the nature of multiparty competition.

“I would not be surprised if there were attempts to revisit the 50-plus-one requirement,” she said.

She added that citizens should scrutinise developments affecting the country’s democratic institutions and insist on broad participation before fundamental constitutional changes were made.

“The Constitution belongs to the people,” Ms Kateka emphasized.