President Edgar Lungu qualifies to run for a third term since his first term was less than three years and not the full term thereby making it legal under the amended Constitution to run for a third term according to Zambia’s Principal State Advocate Fredrick Imasiku, report Lusaka Times.
President Lungu served for only one year when the amendment came into force making him eligible to contest in the 2021elections.
The State Advocate was addressing a petition by opposition parties; Christian Democratic Party president Daniel Pule, Zambia Republican Party president Wright Musoma, New Congress party president Peter Chanda and Citizens Democratic Party president Robert Mwanza.
The opposition wanted to determine the tenure of office and eligibility of the President to run for the next general elections in regards to the Article 106 subsections 1, 3 and 6 of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) 2 of 2016.
Petitioners want the Constitutional Court to declare President Lungu eligible to stand in 2021 and declare that his first term of office officially began on September 13, 2016 when he was sworn in as President for a term of five years.
The opposition party leaders are contending that President Lungu’s election of January 20, 2015, which expired on August 11, 2016, does not constitute a term of office under article 106 (b) of the constitution of Zambia (amendment No.2 of 2016).
