Law Is Clear, Lungu Doesn’t Qualify For 2021 – Sangwa

Constitutional lawyer John Sangwa has insisted that President Edgar Lungu is not eligible to contest elections next year saying he has already been elected twice to the Presidential office and cannot therefore demand a third term. Sangwa has further encouraged Zambians to reject the controversial Constitutional amendment Bill number 10 saying it is the only sure way of blocking President Lungu from contesting.

Sangwa has further encouraged Zambians to reject the controversial Constitutional amendment Bill number 10 saying it is the only sure way of blocking President Lungu from contesting. 

Speaking during the News Diggers discussion forum held in collaboration with Prime Television, Eden University, the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) and Joy FM, Friday, Sangwa said it would be interesting to see how the Electoral Commission of Zambia would treat President Lungu's nomination papers because the law was very clear. 

“When you read the language of the Constitution, it is very clear. The bottom line is President Lungu does not qualify to stand in 2021, the issue is as simple as that. The Constitution does not talk about the number of times you serve, it is the number of times you get elected. So the Constitution expects, to be only able to contest and be elected twice, once you have been elected twice then that’s it, you are done! I think that what has been misunderstood is in relation to the person who has been Vice President. One can only be elected to the office of the President twice, it doesn't matter how many years you serve, you can only be elected to the office of the President twice. No more than twice! You can’t have a third term! There is no provision for a third term in our constitution! What would be of interest is what Mr Nshindano and his colleagues (at ECZ) would do when President Lungu files nomination. We will see what they are going to do because they have the right to reject the nominations papers, so we will see what they are going to do,” Sangwa said.