The Non Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has reiterated its call for a new constitution to be in place this year.
NGOCC Board Chairperson Beatrice Grillo said that her organisation can not deny the relationship that exists between good governance and a good constitution adding that it is the custodian of the citizen’s rights and responsibilities.
Mrs Grillo has since called on all women in the country to continue advocating for a complete replacement of the current constitution with a new one but stressed that NGOCC will remain truthful to its core values of being non partisan in conducting this campaign.
She stated that women from all walks of life should sensitise the Zambian people on the need to have a new constitution in place if peace is to be upheld in the country.
Mrs Grillo explained that the Green T-shirt campaign is meant to send a signal to the planners of the National Constitution Conference (NCC)’s failed constitution that women of Zambia demand for a new constitution that will carry their views.
She said the Green T-shirt will be worn by all women countrywide every Wednesday.
The NGOCC Board Chairperson added that the campaign will take place countrywide in the next two weeks adding that the exercise will symbolise their commitment and peaceful demonstrations.
And speaking in an interview by telephone, Chief Government Spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha told ZANIS that that ever since people of Zambia demanded for a new constititution, Government had always been willing to give the people of a new constitution and that is why the process was started and allowed almost 500 Zambians from all walks of life in the NCC to represent other Zambians to debate recommendations of the Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission.
General Shikapwasha has since advised NGOCC to go to the opposition political parties and convince them to pass the constitution in Parliament and observed that they boycotted the NCC.
He observed that those that were not willing to have a constitution boycotted the NCC and that as Government brought the draft constitution to Parliament, which is the Legislature, the opposition political parties rejected the constitution.
”Whatever the NGOCC is planning to do, there are laws in Parliament. The bill was rejected by the opposition MPs and it takes about six months to restart the process in Parliament. Government has no problem but let the NGOCC talk to the opposition MPS. Govt was willing to have a new constitution and it met all the costs.” He advised
Two weeks ago, the Constitution of Zambia Bill failed to pass through the second reading stage in Parliament after failing to garner the minimum two thirds majority .
This was after only 93 Members of Parliament voted in favour of the Bill of the required 106.
Twenty Members of Parliament abstained from voting which was conducted through a physical division after the electronic voting system developed a technical fault shortly before voting could take place.
Speaker of the National Assembly Amusa Mwanamwamba told Members of Parliament that the failure of the Constitution Bill to go through the second reading stage meant that the 1991 constitution as amended substantially in 1996 will remain in place in its current form.
Earlier, Vice President George Kunda told the House that the Constitution of Zambia Bill sought to preserve laws in existence before the coming into effect of the constitution as amended.
ZANIS
Another non story if you ask me, Its a joke and an insult to call myself a Zambia
I am finished, this country has lost me
Thanks
mushota dont preted the fact is u are a zambian period.
Another woman who has got her knickers in a twist! From which stone did she crawl from? Please allow her to crawl back and take a long sleep!!!
Ubufontini is too much in Zed. Dont these *****s understand what happened in Parliament? Bakamushi emwe!!!! Go to school and get an education and understand basic things. And some countries waste money sponsoring such dull pipo!!
mushota might be pretending but she is right on one score. This is really a non story and a misplacement of resources. It is so abundantly clear that we will only have a new constitution next year. We have had the current constitution since 1996 and it has never brought any war on this country and we have conducted four national elections under it. Here is what is clear: we will have general elections in the last week of september or first week of October. When new Parley resumes sitting the priority will be to pass the budget. New constitution will be tabled in Parley next year. Got it?
“She said the Green T-shirt will be worn by all women countrywide every Wednesday?”.
Now wait a minute Mrs Grillo, have you consulted my fiancee? You better, she guards her independence rather jeolously, if you get the plot.
seaking front page of papers has affected most of these NGOs, even when they do not understand and cannot read the situation. Plse spare us. MMD is not a listening govt period stop wasting our time. the style of leadership in this country is not inclusive hence the situation we are in. Plse Zambians let us read the wind of change, times are changing and we are not changing. this is sad. This NGO should find in their heart of hearts to help change this govt for a listening govt or keep to themselves.
Its shameful a chairperson u can’t understand wat happened in Parliament. Grin T-Shirts 4 wat. As usual u want 2 findaway 2 chew donor funds. Giv dat cash 2 ze poor, and patiently wait 4 6 month + b4 it can b debated!
Green T-shirts for what honestly? Does this woman really understand what she is talking about. She really looks “villagish” and she has no idea of what she is talking about. Madam sir its not about just pushing the new constitution but its about the issues that were not in line with the will of the people that were not incorporated and of course other contentious issues that were raised. This woman wants to eat again in another bogus committee-not again mwailasha. Shame on you for misunderstanding national issues. You are not fit to be a leader amai inu!
That woman in the photo is not too good looking 22:44:05 find better ladies in Zambia to write about a lot of people read this on line paper and how do you expect us to show such faces to our friends? No zambia can do better !
NO COMMENTS……………………………….. THIS WOMAN SHOULD JUST…………… :-?
I am about to retire and this constitution says one can only retire after the age of 60. I received the failure of this constitution with much pleasure! Life expectance in this country is around 38 and instead of reducing the retirement age, they want to increase it. Where will the young people find jobs if the old ones are allowed to cling to those jobs? I salute the MP’s who caused the constitution to fail!
On “The Non Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has reiterated its call for a new constitution to be in place this year“, I agree with “”Whatever the NGOCC is planning to do, there are laws in Parliament. The bill was rejected by the opposition MPs and it takes about six months to restart the process in Parliament. Government has no problem but let the NGOCC talk to the opposition MPS. Govt was willing to have a new constitution and it met all the costs.” by” Chief Government Spokesperson and Minister Hon MP R. Shikapwasha. We still have more than 6 months before the end of this year and UPND through Mr 2011 HH has told Zambian people that it is ready to enact a new and better Constitution of Zambia if Zambian people will put it into power this 2011.
its intresting to read the PF manifsto. constitutional matters raised in the manifesto is what was in the 2010 failed constittional bill. pf has no technical know how on how to turn this country’s economy for the better. so zambians be alert, before you are hoodwinked by people without proper statecraft skills.
It is like these NGOs live in a world of their own. Does it mean this woman does not know why we could not have a new constitution this year? Why are we Zambians so petty? Whose time does she want to waste? What effect will her campaign have? Parliament failed to do it and what is NGOCC in this process? Find better programmes other than wasting people’s time. If you read what she was saying you could tell that even her knows that it is a futile exercise. There are so many other important issues affecting Zambians other than these useless demonstrations. Do not waste our time.
in your dreams dear ladies, dont be emmotional over this issue be realistic!
Mrs grill needs to take off the green knickers and enjoy a good service