Zambia: Gov't urges dismissal of opposition motion to impeach president

LUSAKA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Tuesday called for the dismissal of an impeachment motion filed by the country's main opposition party meant to remove President Edgar Lungu.

Last week, the United Party for National Development filed a notice of motion to impeach Lungu, citing violation of various constitutional provisions, after garnering signatures of two-thirds of members of parliament.

Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya said the grounds presented in the motion do not warrant conditions for impeachment and were an abuse of democratic institutions.

"We as government have a right to give our position that we think that people should not waste the people's time by bringing frivolous issues to parliament because the citizens want their members of parliament to do the things they are sent to do," Dora Siliya, chief government spokesperson, told a press briefing.

"Democracy demands responsibility and not abuse," she said.

Siliya said the allegations contained in the notice of motion do not amount to any impeachable offense recognized in any system of government and do not fall within the scope of impeachable offenses nor meet the test of substantiality.

She said the impeachment motion was an attempt by the opposition party to continuously refuse to acknowledge Lungu's win in the 2016 general elections and an attempt to continue abuse of the judiciary and legislative procedures.

Impeachment is a very grave step to the nation and it has to be predicated on conduct that threatens the very existence of the state, she added.

The notice of motion of impeachment was not only misconceived but also meant to abuse procedures of parliament, Siliya said.

Parliament is expected to hear the motion on Wednesday, March 28.

Lungu's office has already dismissed the impeachment motion, saying he was not bothered by the move.

Some opposition parties aligned to the ruling party are expected to present a petition to Speaker of Parliament Patrick Matibini to dismiss the impeachment motion. Enditem