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Mpasu takes no stand on 3rd term
By
Our reporter - 09-05-2002 |
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Speaker of Parliament Sam Mpasu yesterday declined to take a stand in the current debate on whether to increase the number of terms a president can serve.
“I will not take any position on this matter. I do not want to be partisan,” said Mpasu when he addressed the press at the Central Office of Information in Blantyre.
Mpasu said as Speaker, he has to remain neutral, especially on matters which might come before the House.
“I can only speak my mind when the House has decided on it,” said Mpasu dismissing National Democratic Alliance (NDA) President Brown Mpinganjira’s observations at the weekend that those silent on the debate were opposed to the third term.
He also brushed aside a call by Mpinganjira for a constitutional conference to resolve whether the Constitution should be amended or not.
“It is not correct that everytime an issue of national importance emerges, there must be a national conference. Every matter must be considered on it merits, and the issue of the third term does not merit such a conference,” said Mpasu.
He said that even if the constitution was amended, it should not be taken for granted that President Bakili Muluzi will run again or be re-elected.
“You never know he might decline, and say no, I do not want to run. So it is wrong to take things for granted. Afterall, even if he decides to run, he will have to contest against other candidates,” said Mpasu.
Mpasu said his office has not received any bill on the third term and the Attorney General confirmed to him that the government was not preparing such a bill. He said the bill, if it was there at all, would require three weeks notice before a House sitting..
“If there is anybody preparing a bill of that sort, he or she must make sure that it comes to my office 21 days before the sitting of Parliament, or he will make my life very difficult, as I have to circulate bills in good time to MPs before each sitting,” he said.
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