MULENGA REBUTS KBF CLAIMS, DEFENDS LEGITIMACY OF INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
Independent presidential aspirant Dr. Given Katuta’s Spokesperson, Richard Bravo Mulenga, has dismissed recent remarks by Kelvin Fube Bwalya (KBF), describing them as legally flawed and inconsistent with Zambia’s constitutional provisions regarding independent presidential candidates.
Speaking in a statement issued on behalf of Dr. Katuta, Mr. Mulenga said Mr. Bwalya, leader of the Zambia Must Prosper, had misinterpreted the country’s constitutional framework by suggesting that effective governance could only be anchored on political party structures.
Mr. Mulenga explained that Zambia’s Constitution expressly allows any eligible citizen to contest the presidency regardless of political affiliation.
He noted that Article 100, which outlines qualifications for presidential candidates, does not require an individual to belong to or be sponsored by a political party, adding that this omission was intentional and affirms the legitimacy of independent candidates.
On the issue of accountability, Mr. Mulenga said Mr. Bwalya’s assertions were misplaced, emphasizing that a President is accountable to the electorate rather than to a political party.
He questioned whether Mr. Bwalya was implying that President Hakainde Hichilema was accountable to the United Party for National Development instead of the Zambian people, warning that such a view risked undermining democratic governance.
He further addressed concerns about Cabinet formation, stating that Article 116(1) of the Constitution provides that the President appoints Ministers from among Members of Parliament, without requiring party affiliation.
Mr. Mulenga said this provision enables inclusivity and allows for merit-based appointments across the political divide.
Mr. Mulenga also clarified that qualifications for presidential candidates are determined solely by the Constitution and not by institutions such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) or the Registrar of Societies.
He added that Mr. Bwalya’s claims lacked legal grounding and risked misleading the public, noting that they were unsupported by any constitutional or statutory provisions.
The spokesperson further expressed concern over remarks questioning the impartiality of the Constitutional Court of Zambia, stating that such assertions were speculative and could erode public confidence in the judiciary.
He stressed that the Court operates independently and bases its decisions on law and evidence.
Mr. Mulenga advised Mr. Bwalya, as a senior legal practitioner, to ensure that his public statements are anchored in established legal principles and constitutional provisions.
He added that discourse on constitutional matters requires accuracy, responsibility, and respect for the rule of law.