We agree with Saki, but disagree with him some!

By Revelation Editor

Tonse-Woza-Pamodzi Alliance chairperson Sakwiba Sikota is wondering how President Hakainde Hichilema knew the four UPND members of parliament who did not vote for bill 7, when the list has not been published to Zambians.

The views are similar with those being raised by State Counsel Musa Mwenye, who stated that according to the standing orders of the National Assembly, every vote is followed by the publication of the votes and proceedings of the day.

“When a vote is taken, a division list is always published showing exactly how each and every MP voted. For some reason, the Division list for Bill 7 has never been published by the National Assembly. Could the National Assembly please publish the division list on Bill 7 vote,” observed Mwenye.

Well, of course it can’t be argued that the President is privy to top level information that usually escapes the public eye, especially on matters his heart and soul are invested in, like Bill 7. People should not pretend also that the independence of our parliament is just in name in this country, not only under President Hichilema’s government but all the administrations that have come and gone. The President wields so much power over Parliament because of the numbers, and also because the leaders of the legislature are appointed by him and also swear allegiance to him. Besides that, he has got a lot of resources at his disposal to get to the bottom of matters.

Therefore, there is no way President Hichilema can fail to know which MP voted for what in the Nelly Mutti led National Assembly, with Malungo Chisangano and  Moses Moyo by her side. And even if Parliament were independent in the real sense of the word, there is no way the President would fail to know how members voted on any matter, because of the vast resources under his disposal.

However, that is not to excuse the fact that the list of which members of parliament voted for and against Bill 7 need to me made public to the Zambian people, more especially that President Hichilema has even indicated that he is aware about those who voted for and against the Bill, which he subsequently signed into law.

But we also want to interrogate the other aspect Sikota raised, which is that MPs have a duty to vote based on their conscience and what the people who voted for them to go to parliament wanted. 

“The primary responsibility is to the constitution. The second responsibility is to the people who sent them to parliament. Then thirdly, is to their conscience. And the party comes role number four. Citizens’ roles come down at fifth place,” said Sikota. “So, if the constitution is not in line with what the President wants, then they should not go with what the President wants, but the constitution. If their conscience is not in line with what the President wants, they should abandon the President and do what is in their conscience.”

What Sikota is saying is as it should actually be in the ideal world. This is the ideal Zambia we have always advocated for. It is the Zambia we want, which President Hichilema actually promised he would bring into realisation, where people would not be hundred in the enjoyment of their democratic rights.

However, as revealed by the President himself in Solwezi, that is far from the situation on the ground. We are still wallowing in the same retrogressive practices where members of parliament are expected to vote for the President’s aspirations even when they don’t agree with them.

But Sikota must also be honest. Under this culture we operate in as a country, his own alliance would not approve of their own members of parliament voting against the wishes of Brian Mundubile and his alliance in the event they were elected into office, actually even while they are in the opposition. We believe that members that would go against the party wishes would face severe punishments and sanctions actually, including expulsions from their party. We have lived in this country long enough to understand and predict our politicians behavioural patterns. There are just certain fundamental aspects where they will always behave like Siamese twins, especially where the protection and projection of power is concerned.

Let the heading on editorial read like this: We agree with Saki and disagree some!