PF committed to legal reform

Deputy government chief whip praises the concourt for rejecting the LAZ claim saying it was a ploy to derail the PF program to give the people of Zambia the best constitution ever.

By Francis Maingaila
(03-11-19) Kabwe Central Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament Tutwa Ngulube has accused the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) of coming up with legal action against the National Assembly and President Edgar Lungu as a ploy  to derail the progress made by the PF in the legal reforms.
Hon. Ngulube told journalists at the PF Interactive Forum held at Longacres Lodge that the LAZ knew or ought to have known that the law in Zambia does not allow the National Assembly and the president of the Republic to be sued directly.
To our surprised, the LAZ came up with an action against the National Assembly and the president of the republic of Zambia which was rejected by the constitutional court. For us in the PF, this was a circulated ploy to derail the legal reforms which we have embarked so that we can give the people the best laws.”
Hon. Ngulube observed that the 2016 constitution come with issues that needed to resolved and after the election, all political parties and interest groups agreed to refine the constitution.
He said ambiguity that was discovered in the constitution not only exposed the operation of government but also threatened the national peace and unit.
Realising the need to correct the errors in the constitution, Hon Ngulube observed all parties agreed to have the defects in the constitution refined.”
He said the National Dialogue Forum (NDF) was called to agreed on what needed to be changed and maintained in the constitution.
Regrettably, Hon Ngulube observed, some opposition political parties including the LAZ especially,  that took part in the NDF that decided come up with recommendations that formed Bill 10, opposed the move to have the constitution refined and went ahead to sue the National Assembly and the president with film knowledge that, the two entities cannot be sued directly.
He said attempts by the LAZ to sue these institutions was aimed at derailing the efforts and commitment by the ruling PF  towards legal reforms.
Thanks to the alert men and women in the judiciary, the action was rejected and the process will proceed as planned to amend the constitution.
He vowed that nothing will sit on the way of the PF in its quest to fulfil its obligation to bring positive legal reforms.
Hon Ngulube observed that lack o the tribal attack exhibited by clear laws has seen some member of parliament twist their debate towards tribal lines.
He said the tribal remarks being exhibited in the house of laws was not in the best interest of the country.
He said once good laws are put in place, no one will be allowed to bring debates that put the unit and peace of the country into jeopardy.
Hon. Ngulube also questioned the Twit made by the UPND leaders Hakainde Hichilema suggesting that his government will not work with the people who were involved in the MMD government after accusing them of being corrupt.
According to Hon. Ngulube, the UPND leader was referring to the MMD cabinet ministers that sided with the ruling PF in 2015 presidential by election following the death of the founding father of the ruling PF and Republican president Michael Sata.
He reminded Hichilema that the MMD got divided in 2015 with some MPs going to PF wihile others remained in the MMD as opposition and some supported the opposition UPND in 2016.
He wondered what Mr. Hichilema will do with the former MMD MPs that form part of his UPND machinery.
Hon Ngulube wondered why the UPND leaders has not condemned the tribal sentiments exhibited by his MPs in parliament and said, since he has repeated it in his twit, then he support tribal attack on people not from his home land.
He said it is not in order for the UPND parliamentarians  attack people suspected to be foreigners in the house of laws.
Furthermore Hon Ngulube demanded for answers from the UPND leader on whether or not his party belong to the Africa Liberal Network.
He said for as along as the UPND leaders does not give convincing answers to questions raised, the people will continue to hold that his believe and accept everything ascribed to the Africa Liberal Network.
Also Hon Ngulube wants Hichilema to disclose his source of income to rule out the possibility that, the wealth he boast of did came from the proceeds of state privatisation of aserts.
Up to non, Hon Ngulube explained, Hichilema has not explained the wealth stuck in his off shore account from the paradise paper brought it to the attention of the public.
He said there is a general feeling among the people that during the privatisation, Hichilema not only undervalued the state companies state companies but also at a give the said companies including the mines data give away prizes to companies he has interest in.
He challenged HH to sue all the people accusing him of looting the state during privatisation era if what the people have said is false.
He observed that there people out there who knows the truth but does not have an opportunity to tell the story.
He said suing will give the people with information an opportunity to bring the facts on how the state owned companies were lleged ubservalued and sold to companies Hichilema had interest.
Hon. Ngulube defended Malambo PF MP Macabi Zulu’s claim that the UPND leaders benefited $14milliin from the sell of the national park in the Lower Zambezi where an Australian company want to commence  mining activities.
He said the ruling PF welcome the plans by Hichilema to sue hon. Zulu because this will give the party an opportunity to expose the UPND strongman.
At the same function, Hon. Ngulube discribed the vote of no confidence passed on him by councilors in Kabwe Central as an attempt to him their inequities associated with illegal plot allocation to foreigners.
Hon. Ngulube said he has been fighting his councilors that were involved in all forms of land corruption from the time he was elected an MP for Kabwe Central in 2016.
He clarified that some councilors were working with the cadres to displace the innocent citizens from their homes after giving the plots away to foreigners.
In order to avert the scandal associated to the illegal land allocation, Hon Ngulube said the councilors connived to pass a vote of no confidence on him.
He said councilors thought of passing a vote of  no confidence on after failing to pay back the money to foreigners they promised land in his constituency.
He said for as long as he remain an MP for Kabwe central he will not abandone his mission to protect the citizens from the councilors who to displace them from their land.
He said, the said vite of no confidence passed has of no legal consequences because the councilors are not the one that voted for him.