Kill the presidential retirement act

Terence Musuku
Correspondent | Monday December 12, 2011 00:00

And he was probably dead right.  But following the deaths of former presidents Frederick Chiluba and Levy Mwanawasa, questions are being asked whether it is prudent or wise to keep certain pieces of legislation in the statute books.  The late charismatic president Chiluba, made one blunder niggardly when he executed his presidential power over Parliament to enact and pass the addled Presidential Retirement Act above national interest.

This Act provides that upon retirement or death of every successive president, the state should provide, among stately benefits and entitlements, construction of a new house with all presidential trappings in a place of his or her choice anywhere in the country.  Additionally, the retiring president is entitled to getting 80 percent salary of the incumbent; no less than three vehicles; three housesâ workers as well as security personnel.  The Zambian parliament that passed this legislation included notable members of parliament (MPs), lettered minds, scholars, professors, law luminaries, political thinkers and moral crusadersâ but all sat mutely, thereby allowing the Bill to go through.

This is only possible in the chaotic politics of Zambia where we have seen time and again, an individual prevail over public interest willy-nilly. The Presidential Retirement Act was typical: it was designed and well-tailored by president Chiluba in fulfilment of his lifestyle.  What is derivable, to ask a simple question, from the Presidential Retirement Act as a nation?  Citizens are only drawing nothing but dryness and heaviness, politically, economically and morally, from the addled Act, which, in the first place was a total misconception.

'Boomeranging Blunder' indeed, in effect and execution, this is what the Act has turned out to be - even the intended beneficiaries (age-enervated presidents) cannot live long enough to swim in life's comforts provided for under the Presidential Retirement Act.  To illustrate the futility of the Act in brief, the late Chiluba, who masterminded its enactment, died in June this year.  The construction of his Presidential house as part of his retirement package is still a matter of lip-service.

The second president Levy Mwanawasa (also late), died in 2008.  He, too, died without having the comfort of his due house-entitlement as proposed.  The construction, however, has started and progressing well, according to reports from those in the corridors of power in Lusaka.  This means in both cases, and in effect, that either the surviving widows or children as willed legatees (beneficiaries) would take over ownership and occupation of the houses when completed.  As a coincidence, sadly, Chiluba and Mwanawasa, were divorcees who remarried.  Hence, contentions and counter-contentions, are smouldering over inheritance of properties left by the two departed former presidents.  The Presidential Retirement Act took effect, with special consideration, retrospectively.  So, the first president Dr Kenneth Kaunda, was deemed qualified as beneficiary.  In his case, he had his retirement house constructed and moved in thereafter.

'To provide each retiring president with house entitlement built with all Presidential trappingsâ' as then President Chiluba justified,' is one better way of paying homage deserved for a president to continue in the swim of affluence and comforts in retirement.  Chiluba further cited the United States (US) as one country where retiring presidents get special retirement packages, including a palatial house, befitting a former republican president.

True or not makes no issue of contention because one thing, US is a totally different country with a different background, the insight inscrutable and the foresight impossible to tell.  US is a country where a president  imbued with probity and sense of selflessnessâ assumes power for the betterment of his society above self-interest.  In sharp contrast to Zambia, as elsewhere in Africa, almost every in-coming president amasses wealth overnight upon assuming power.  It is for this reason after mulling, mulling and mulling over, many right thinking Zambians have expressed their hue and cry against the presidential retirement legislation.

Calling a spade a spade when one feels ready to pursue the office of the President, such a contestant should be radiating sum and substance: possessing both sound financial power and personal residence.  Take this example: the first President (Kaunda) was a provident leader.  He built a 10-bed room house on the outskirts of Chinsali town during his presidential tenure.  President Chiluba had owned no less than three good houses in Ndola before assuming the Presidency; Mwanawasa possessed no less than 10 houses in and outside Ndola when he was running his law firm; and the outgoing president Rupiah Banda owned a farmhouse in Chipata before becoming the fourth president of Zambia.

Incumbent President Michael Sata, is no exception: he owns a valuable house in Northmead, Lusaka.  On these accounts, building a house for every retiring president is, frankly and plainly, something outside the scope of imagination of many Zambians.  One can, perhaps, liken the motive to supplying money-notes to Bank of Zambia, the money-minter!  Arising from legislation of the Presidential Retirement Act, adding insult to injury, this has catalysed many Zambian politicians ogling at contesting for the Presidency.  The chief factor that seemingly induced Rupiah Banda seeking to contest for full-term Presidential tenure.

As luck would have it, the PF Government under ascetic leader, Michael Sata is able and noble enough to do the right thing: to repeal the Presidential Retirement Act in national interest.

To do, as demonstrably done to turn out a new leaf in Zambian governance through tackling the bull by the horns.  Most analysts now firmly believe the Presidential Retirement Act is not only a misguided political legislation, but also an exercise in futility.  Politicians aspiring for Presidency, in Zambia and elsewhere in the world, come from the age-group ranging from mostly 50-60 years old.

This stands to reason that, given the current life expectancy in Zambia (between 35-45 years), the President-elected would not live long enough in office.  Put in plain words, he/she would not live to feel and enjoy the comfort as provided for, and envisaged, through the provisions of the Presidential Retirement Act. The beneficiaries are the widows (in both Mwanawasa and Chiluba's cases) and children.

This underlines the absurdity of the Act that, in effect, is perceived as a meretricious rather than meritorious piece of legislation.  It is so essential, therefore, for political leaders to calculate in good time what forces to set in motion, and base the calculation on their maximum prospective strengths and positive results.  This Act was ill-mooted with self-seeking motive. (Sila Press Agency)