Sun, 09 Jul 2017 11:23:58 +0000
By CHARLES MUSONDA
THERE is no dictatorship in Zambia and all three arms of government are working independently, the African Union has observed.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Nation in Lusaka, outgoing African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC) Presiding Officer Joseph Chilengi said Zambia’s standing on human rights, governance, and democracy was still as it had always been despite some negative talk by few individuals.
“As African Union we want to say that Zambia is not sliding into dictatorship. Zambia’s human rights and democratic credentials are very high and vibrant and they continue to be an inspiration to the entire continent and the world.
“No amount of negative communication will change that. The leadership was put in office in line with the constitution of this country. Therefore, there is no outsider who should question that and any insider questioning that is questioning this country’s constitution. If you are an outsider then you are interfering with the sovereignty of this particular state in line with its constitution,” Mr. Chilengi said.
He said the Zambian people should be proud that democratic credentials of their country were vibrant at a highest level as they had ever been before. “Because of that, Zambia as a country, must be given respect internally and at international level. Apart from that, the recent global peace, democracy, and peace indices put Zambia among the top five. Therefore, no one should begin to de-rail the agenda of this country.
“The leaders must feel proud and I think they are working according to expectations of many Zambians except the few that may not be happy. If the global peace index places Zambia among the top five, the global democratic index places Zambia among the top five, even the global human rights perspective places Zambia as one of the countries where human rights are upheld, then the country is okay,” he said.
He added that all three arms of government were working effectively and efficiently, and were not impaired.
Mr. Chilengi commended Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini for remaining vibrant in Parliament and making historical decisions that were in line with rules of procedure vested in him.
He said the late President Sata had set a shining precedent in the jurisprudence of the law for always seeking court redress whenever he felt aggrieved and he never went in the streets.
