Larger Parliament Is Costly
Class in session at one community school in Zambia
By Henry Kyambalesa-The National Constitutional Conference’s proposal to increase seats for Members of Parliament from 158 to 280 makes very sad reading, especially that it is coming at a time when tens of thousands of Grade 7 and Grade 9 students have continued to be spilled onto the streets every year, the healthcare system cannot meet the basic needs of the majority of citizens, the majority of Zambians have no access to clean water and electricity, a critical shortage of decent public housing has compelled so many of our fellow citizens to live in shanty townships nationwide, public infrastructure and services are still deficient, civil servants are still not adequately compensated for their services, crime and unemployment are still widespread, and, among many other socio-economic ills, taxes and interest rates are still very high.
It seems the huge allowances which members of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) are receiving have intoxicated them so much that they have become incapable of thinking about the catalogue of socio-economic woes which cannot be addressed mainly due to the lack of financial and material resources.
Zambia cannot afford to implement the proposal they have recommended. There is really no wisdom in seeking to increase the number of constituencies when some of the existing constituencies cannot even generate enough tax revenue to meet the cost of maintaining their MPs.
Rather than increase the number of MPs, we should actually have been considering the prospect of reducing the number and restricting their functions to legislative matters. Parliament would still be representative and able to function effectively as the legislative organ of our national government with only 72 elected MPs, for example, so that 1 MP could be elected from each of the existing 72 districts.
If we cannot reduce the number of MPs, we need to continue to have a Parliament with 158 members.
And MPs should not be involved in the implementation of development projects; this should be the function of government ministries and local authorities. Besides, the provinces are already saturated with such portfolios as District Commissioners, Provincial Ministers and Provincial Permanent Secretaries, all of which are supposed to complement the executive branch of the government in the implementation of development projects. To reiterate, we need to restrict the role of Parliament to legislative functions — that is, law-making.
Our country’s meager tax revenues will not be sufficient to maintain such a large Parliament and the highly bloated Cabinet. And we cannot continue to borrow until we push the country back into the debt trap. Besides, donor countries, too, are not likely to continue extending a helping hand while we continue to misuse our meager resources.
There is a need for NCC members and the government to realize that donor countries, like Zambia, do not have unlimited resources. They have to make do with scarce resources by going through public expenditures line by line, program by program, agency by agency, department by department, and ministry by ministry in order to eliminate unnecessary application of public funds.
We need to start doing the same in order to wean our country from its current addiction to loans, its over-dependence on donor funding, as well as attain economic independence and sustained socio-economic development mostly with our own local resources.
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This is utmost stupidity by commissioners at NCC agreeing to such rogue decision. What is the role of the constituency offices oppened at constituency level there for? Mwalyasana bakabalwe!
Bloggers can this happen in Zambia?
WASHINGTON – Tens of thousands of protesters fed up with government spending marched to the U.S. Capitol on Saturday, showing their disdain for the president’s health care plan with slogans such as “Obamacare makes me sick” and “I’m not your ATM.”The line of protesters clogged several blocks near the Capitol, according to the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. Demonstrators chanted “enough, enough” and “We the People.” Others yelled “You lie, you lie!” and “Pelosi has to go,” referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.Throngs of people waved U.S. flags and held signs reading “Go Green Recycle Congress” and “Obama Bin Lyin.’” Men wore colonial costumes as they listened to speakers who warned of “judgment day” — Election Day 2010.Other signs — reflecting the growing intensity of the health care debate — depicted President Barack Obama with the signature mustache of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. Many referred to Obama as a socialist or communist, and another imposed his face on that of the villainous Joker from “Batman.”
Richard Brigle, 57, a Vietnam War veteran and former Teamster, came from Paw Paw, Mich. He said health care needs to be reformed — but not according to Obama’s plan.”My grandkids are going to be paying for this. It’s going to cost too much money that we don’t have,” he said while marching, bracing himself with a wooden cane as he walked.FreedomWorks Foundation, a conservative organization led by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, organized several groups from across the country for what they billed as a “March on Washington.”
Organizers say they built on momentum from the April “tea party” demonstrations held nationwide to protest tax policies, along with growing resentment over the economic stimulus packages and bank bailouts.Armey and other speakers directed their ire at Pelosi — Armey took a photo, telling the crowd he wanted to be able to prove to her they were there.”If it’s necessary, we’ll come back here next year,” he said.Many protesters said they paid their own way to the event — an ethic they believe should be applied to the government. They say unchecked spending on things like a government-run health insurance option could increase inflation and lead to economic ruin.Terri Hall, 45, of Starke, Fla., said she felt compelled to become political for the first time this year because she was upset by government spending.”Our government has lost sight of the powers they were granted,” she said. She added that deficit spending is out of control, and said she thought it was putting the country at risk.Race also became an issue when a black Republican leader denounced African-American politicians that she said had an “affinity” for socialism.”I’m outraged prominent black politicians use the race card” to cover up their failed policies, said Deneen Borelli of New York.One woman held a sign with images of Martin Luther King Jr. and Obama, with the words printed alongside: “He had a dream, we got a nightmare.”Lawmakers also supported the rally. Rep. Mike Pence, chairman of the House Republican Conference, said Americans want health care reform but they don’t want a government takeover.
“Republicans, Democrats and independents are stepping up and demanding we put our fiscal house in order,” Pence, of Indiana, told The Associated Press.
“I think the overriding message after years of borrowing, spending and bailouts is enough is enough,” Pence said. Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., and Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., also spoke at the rally. Other sponsors of the event include the Heartland Institute, Americans for Tax Reform and the Ayn Rand Center for Individuals Rights. Connie Castleton, 52, of Irving, Texas, said she drove 20 hours from her home to attend the rally. The nurse said she’s motivated to try and get others involved in opposing Obama’s health care plan. “There’s a lot more people mad about what’s going on than I thought,” she said. Several protesters said they represented a “silent majority” or referred to themselves as “community organizers” — a phrase often associated with the president.
“This isn’t some right-wing conservative agenda,” said 30-year-old Adam Moore of Rochester, Mich. “This is a true grass-roots movement.” Erica Coyle, who’s in her 50s and is from Louisville, Ky., said problems began before Obama took office, but she said the situation has worsened and people are “finally waking up.” “This is his Waterloo,” Coyle said of Obama.
I think we have had enough stupidity and senselessness from this Govt. I would not care if a bullet is used to block further stupidity! Why can’t Zambians vigorously react or even violently against this stupid and senseless decisions!
I guess most of you remember what President Obama said in Ghana in July this year. That, it is difficult to help Africa countries develop becoz of very low public service values in the leaders.
I ahve personally failed to wrap my brains around this proposal by NCC. Are these people ok in there heads? How on earth can one even think of 100 more MPs. Zambia is a very small country, we dont even need the current 158 MPs. We are only 11 million people and Mexico city has 20 million people.
Most of the MPs (especially from the MMD) are greed, dull, incompetent and unapatriotic. They know thay make it so they want to push for more seats. What we need are now effective community governance structures and not more MPs you fools!
These are the results when you have a compromised by hefty allowance NCC. These delegates should have revised the Constitution without any allowances and the country was going to end up receiving a sober, uncompromised, healthy, well balanced Constitution. Even the bible says a gift corrupts the eyes of the wise and perverts justice Dueteronomy 16:19, Proverbs 17:23, Ecclesiastes 7 :7. The Auditor General needs to audit this NCC because Zambians deserve a cost benefit Analysis.
Zambians are idiots that why the government does what it pleases to do.
Where’s the outrage from Zambians over this issue and other many issues? NONE
No more representative democracy. NCC can do much better if we can all gather in Kabwe make laws. All of speaking at the same time.
Mr. Henry Kyambalesa, probably the most convincing argument ever made against this issue—YOU ARE RIGHT ON POINT, SIR!!! The NCC will do well to rethink this myopic and seemingly uneducated proposal. How in HELL! is the country ‘dirty broke’, as Zambia is, going to afford to maintain 100+ more MPs?! Come on now, get real, folks!!!!
Its absolutely disgraceful. I don’t what these people think Zambians are, utter idiots? They want to double the size of parliament, why? What do members of parliament do? fight for bonuses and car loans? We already pay for 158 pretenders, should we be paying for more? Unbelievable!
Instead of increasing the size of parliament. MPs can be TRAINED to handle bigger constituencies. Also they can employ STAFF to help them carry out their tasks. I fear the real motive behind this move by the current govt is to increase the number of MPs in areas where they are assured of victory. More effort should be directed towards adding value to this institution as currently its is nothing more than a talk shop and a rubber stamp for govt.
Well argued comments. There must be something these people are working on. They are supposed to increase number of teaches, doctors etc not these large grain borers.