A debate was ignited on Thursday in Zambia after the country’s governing Patriotic Front (PF) suggested changing the presidential term limits from the current five years to seven, the Africa Review reports
Paul Moonga, a member of the Central Committee made the remarks while addressing reporters in the country’s capital, Lusaka.
“The five-year term of office is too short to implement developmental projects,” Mr Moonga said.
Moonga proposed an increase in the tenure for the president, Members of Parliament and civic leaders.
“Seven years would be better as most of them (presidents) focus on re-adoption at the expense of sustainable development. There is a need for open debate over the extension of the term of office for bearers to carry out their tasks of reducing poverty.”
According to Mr Moonga, Zambia which has an estimated population of 14.5 million people was facing high poverty levels that needed enough time to address.
He continued to argue that the southern African nation cannot afford the luxury of holding expensive elections after every 60 months and that the money spent on polls could go towards poverty reduction.
Zambia’s second President Frederick Chiluba in 1991 attempted to change the constitution to pave the way for a third term, but his bid faced massive opposition and in the end, it failed.
PF has been in power since 2011, winning three presidential elections – 2011 under founder Michael Sata, two under current leader Edgar Lungu, in January 2015 and the disputed August 11, 2016.
