PATRIOTIC Front (PF) secretary general Davies Chama says the Zambian constitution does not bar a minister from contesting the presidency when there is a vacancy.
“There is nowhere in the Zambian constitution where it says a serving minister must relinquish his position if he or she wants to contest the presidency,” Chama said in a statement yesterday.
He was responding to calls by the United Party for National Development (UPND) that PF presidential candidate Edgar Lungu relinquishes his positions of Minister of Defence and Minister of Justice.
“The UPND in its usual desperate style has continued to erroneously suggest that Mr Lungu must step down from his ministerial positions. This is legally and factually incorrect,” Chama said.
He said history is replete with examples such as former President Rupiah Banda going to the polls whilst holding on to his acting portfolio because that is what the law provides for.
“The simple point to make is that of a Zambian serving president re-contesting a presidential seat – there is no law that compels such an individual from standing down as President in order to join the race,” Chama said
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