Africa-Press – Zambia. …..the current system that withholds retirement benefits from former presidents who remain politically active is unjust and must be changed
Lusaka… Monday February 9, 2026 (SMART EAGLES)
The Golden Party of Zambia (GPZ) has proposed sweeping constitutional and governance reforms, including amendments to the benefits of former presidents and the introduction of two vice presidents.
GPZ President Jackson Silavwe said the current system that withholds retirement benefits from former presidents who remain politically active is unjust and must be changed.
“A former president has already earned their pension through service to the nation. It is unfair to deny them what they rightfully deserve simply because they choose to remain active in politics,” Mr. Silavwe told journalists in Lusaka.
Under the GPZ proposal, a sitting president who loses power through general elections would retain full retirement benefits regardless of whether they choose to retire from politics or continue participating in public affairs.
Mr. Silavwe emphasized that former presidents should be treated with dignity and respect, noting that they remain constitutional leaders even after leaving office.
“Former presidents are not rebel leaders. They are political leaders whose authority was granted by our constitution. It is essential to treat them as integral members of our governance system, not as enemies of the state,” he said.
In a separate proposal, the GPZ has called for the creation of two vice presidential positions, with clearly defined roles aimed at improving governance efficiency.
According to Mr. Silavwe, the First Vice President for Administration would serve as the second-in-command to the president and would assume office in the event of a vacancy in the presidency.
This vice president would also act on behalf of the president when the Head of State is out of the country or incapacitated, and would oversee disaster management through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU).
“The administration vice president will be the one most delegated both within and outside the country and will be responsible for coordinating disaster response and mitigation,” Mr. Silavwe explained.
The proposed Second Vice President for Operations would be responsible for government business in Parliament and would serve as an ex-officio Member of Parliament.
While participating in debates and responding to questions, the vice president for operations would only vote in the event of a tie.
“We need to take parliamentary business very seriously. We cannot afford a vice president who is divided between executive and legislative duties. We need someone whose sole responsibility is parliamentary business,” Mr. Silavwe said.
He added that the reforms are intended to strengthen governance, accountability, and respect for democratic institutions.
The Golden Party of Zambia says it intends to present the proposals to the Zambian people as part of broader constitutional and governance reforms.
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