YESTERDAY, we carried a story with the headline Sata goes for medical treatment abroad, destination unknown, reported by a Zambian paper, regarding that country’s President, Michael Sata.
NewsDay Editorial
According to the report, “Sata was sneaked out of the country”, accompanied by his wife Christine, close family members and his spokesperson, around midnight on Sunday to an undisclosed destination, but believed to be Israel.
“It is the first time the government has ever announced Sata going for ‘medical’ check-up as it has always insisted he is healthy and fit no matter how sometimes he collapses.”
Indeed, they have to strike a balance between transparency and privacy. Some matters are purely for Mrs Sata to deal with.
We wish Sata well and in the event of the worst happening, we hope our close neighbour will have a smooth transition because of the strong constitutional tradition in that country.
A constitutional crisis is unlikely to happen because their politics is more open and, thus, user-friendly. There is a clear succession path. And leadership transition in Zambia has been smooth and peaceful. Vice-President Rupiah Banda seamlessly stepped in when President Levy Mwanawasa died in 2008.
In the United States, they say “the Vice-President is a heartbeat away from the Presidency”, meaning that in case the President’s heart stops beating (that is, in case of death or any other incapacitation), the VP takes over immediately as dictated by the US Constitution.
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President Richard Nixon was replaced by Vice-President Gerald Ford after he resigned in 1974 after the discovery of political dirty tricks against his opponents, which became known as the Watergate Scandal, hatched from his office. Again, there is a clear succession plan.
Is Zimbabwe, we have had one Vice-President — Joice Mujuru — since the Second Vice-President, John Nkomo, died in 2012.
The remaining VP is being being attacked in an onslaught led by First Lady Grace Mugabe for her to step down for no proven constitutional reason. This can have the effect of political destabilisation during what could be a delicate time.
The First Lady has no constitutional role in State affairs. Like Mrs Sata, she should stay in the background over such matters because her word is not the law.
There is no official role for her in the Constitution, so the less she says about succession matters, the better for Zimbabwe which has not known succession since independence. Like Mrs Sata, she should stick to her role as Mrs Mugabe and be there for her husband in sickness and in health.
Any succession should be according to the Constitution as it stands — no less, no more. It is the Constitution which qualifies and disqualifies.
