Kabwe, December 5, A cross section of Kabwe residents have expressed ignorance over the on- going central province constitutional convention though the Technical Committee Drafting the Zambian Constitution is confident that the sensitization process has been successful.
Random interviews conducted by ZANIS in Kabwe revealed that most residents are not aware of the ongoing provincial constitution in the provincial capital.
Muntanga Mulonda who is one of the Kabwe residents said he is aware of the constitution making process but expressed ignorance of the stage reached in the constitution making process.
Mr Mulonda complained of lack of sensitization on the grass root level and appealed to the technical committee drafting the Zambian constitution to involve ordinary Zambians if they were to arrive at a people driven document that will stand the taste of time.
He said most people were not aware of the ongoing convention when it was being held in their town stating that the whole process has only targeted the elite and organizations to which some people may not be affiliated to.
He noted that most information relating to the constitution was only made available by means of radio, Newspapers and television adverts mainly made in English and are not accessible to the ordinary citizen.
“They may have advertised the convention on TV but there is need for road shows and door to door campaign to take the information to the people, i have not seen any information to that effect” he said.
Another Kabwe resident, Chabala Zulu expressed ignorance over the issue and further inquired what the constitution is.
Meanwhile, Champo Mweema a Catholic sister said she was aware that the constitution was being amended but did not know the current position.
Sister Mweema, appealed to the technical committee to ensure that most of the views held by people are implemented as there has been heated debate over the matter from its commencement.
She said awareness campaigns were only carried out at the beginning of the exercise and that not much information has been disseminated in the last stage which was held at district level.
The central province provincial constitution convention which begun on Monday, 3rd December has entered its third day and will be concluded on 8th December.
The provincial convention is the second last stage of the deliberations and making recommendations to the final draft constitution.
ZANIS
What a waste of tax payers money. If you the people aren’t sensitized enough, how then do you expect any sensible changes to be made to the constitution? Do you even know what the current constitution is all about, do you know your rights as a citizen?
And you the local government drunkards should all be fired. Useless chaps you are Please, let your people know in whatever form the importance of understanding what this process is all about. If you have to beat it right in their thick skulls, well do it! How the hell do you just play the sensitization Ads on radio & TV in english only? Send your people to the villages and speak in their local languages so that, there’s no misunderstandings. You shouldn’t complain about money, your greedy asses are being paid handsomely. Ala…
It is not lack of sensitization, but lack of interest. Full stop!
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