Zambian youths call for presidential term limit to be scrapped
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Diggers
Youth-led civil society organisations submitted a petition to Zambia’s Parliament calling for the removal of the presidential term limit and the secondary school certificate requirement for candidates. Appointed MP Francis Kope said he would start parliamentary proceedings to consider their demands, Diggers reports.
Youth-led civil society organisations have submitted a petition to the Zambian Parliament calling for the removal of the presidential term limit and the requirement to hold a secondary school-leaving certificate to stand for election. The Zambian media outlet Diggers reports that the march and submission of the petition took place on Tuesday.
UPND-appointed MP Francis Kope welcomed the initiative and said he intended to begin the necessary parliamentary procedure for the young people’s demands to be considered. The debate over the term limit notably concerns the possibility of President Hakainde Hichilema seeking another term after 2031.
Appointed MP Florence Chama had previously defended this prospect, saying that Zambian women wanted the country to develop and that keeping Hichilema in power beyond 2031 could contribute to this. She had already called for the term limit to be lifted in a statement published on 21 September.
