The Technical Committee constituted to draft the constitution has said that it will not sign off the final report after receiving instructions from the Ministry of Justice to only print 10 copies. In a statement made available to all media houses, the committee said that it found it inappropriate to sign the Report.
Below is the full statement
REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE DRAFTING THE ZAMBIA CONSTITUTION
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8th NOVEMBER, 2013
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE RESOLUTION ON THE HAND-OVER OF THE
THE FINAL DRAFT CONSTITUTION
The Technical Committee:
Recalling its Terms of Reference that mandated it to consult and take into account submissions from local and international experts on constitutional law and practice, the stakeholders and members of the public at large, and sector groups,
Further recalling that the Terms of Reference mandated the Committee to make full public disclosure of the outcomes of the constitution-making process and that through-out its interaction with the Government and other stakeholders, the Committee had consistently maintained that the hand-over of the Final Draft Constitution, the Draft Constitution of Zambia Bill, 2013 and the Final Report of the Technical Committee to the President of the Republic of Zambia (hereinafter referred to as “the Appointing Authority”) and to the public, simultaneously,
Acknowledging receipt of a letter from the Ministry of Justice directing the Technical Committee to print ten (10) copies of the documents for hand-over to the Appointing Authority, therefore, leaving no copies for hand-over to the public and to retain individually as members of the Technical Committee,
Reaffirming its determination to comply with the Terms of Reference and to keep its promise to the public as a way of enhancing public confidence in the current constitution-making process,
Resolves:
1. not to sign the Report until clarification has been given on how the Final Draft Constitution, the Draft Constitution of Zambia Bill, 2013 and the Final Report of the Technical Committee will be distributed;
2. to issue a statement to inform the public that the Committee has been instructed to only print ten (10) copies for hand-over to the Appointing Authority and has, therefore, found it inappropriate to sign the Report; and
3. to mandate the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Committee to seek audience with the Appointing Authority with a view of communicating the Committee’s obligation to abide by its Terms of Reference, which are at variance with the new directive from the Ministry of Justice on the procedure of handing-over the Final Draft Constitution, the Draft Constitution of Zambia Bill, 2013 and the Final Report of the Technical Committee.
Mr. Ernest C. Mwansa
SPOKESPERSON
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON DRAFTING THE ZAMBIAN
CONSTITUTION
Ok twaumfwa.
I am glad that the technical committee has stood its ground as provided in the terms of reference by the appointing authority.
We want this constitution to be people driven, a constitution that will stand the test of time. we don’t want a constitution that will be tailored to serve some and fix others.
we want a law that will be fair, just and progressive for the betterment of our country.
Bravo technical committee
Aba bafcola they want to manipulate things. Why do u provoke us to insult i.di.ots. This time u ll account for the taxes we pay. We want to know how our money is being used. Ka wynter is mad. He thinks he ll manage to manipulate the draft. I now see why they wnat u out of Pf.
“When groups feel oppressed and feel the system isn’t working for them, that’s extremely dangerous and the danger becomes unstoppable! Lies don’t build but do destroy”Diamond.
Constitution in 90 days,no in 2 years!“Mr Sata has proved to this nation that he is nothing but a liar.His second name is Mr Liar.Everything that he has promised the Zambian people he doesn’t do it,look at the public order act, where is the judicial reforms, where is the constitution?
He lies in the morning, he lies at lunch time;he lies before going to sleep.He can’t argue with this;his middle name is liar.He lied his way to State House.What Sata the liar promised the people he has not fulfilled look at the high prices of fuel, food,dirty in the streets.Sata knows,he lied-now where is the constitution headed?
Now it is becoming clear why a few weeks ago there was mention that PF were considering doing away with adoption of the constitution via a referendum. There is every suspicion that they want to change contents to merely to preserve the status quo. Be careful PF Zambia is watching you closely in your futile attempts to usurp power from the people. CRIMINALS!!!!
I hope hh won’t say bulls..
Tongas want to rip constitution for no reason
I hope the youth sorts these guys
Sata is scared of the 50 plus 1. He knows he can’t get he manipulated the constitution with FTJ. Now Ba mwansa spare our trees and protect the environment . Why can’t you f.uckin post that damn constitution on net so everyone can easily read now u want to print 10million copies.
PF and Sata want to sneak in the constitution a “TWO TERMS OF 8 OR 10 YEARS EACH”, Zambians be vigilant and tighten the grip!! Watch the pace….(not space) Don’t say you were not warned!!!
The whole idea of instructing number of copies to be printed makes me fell UNZAMBIAN. Why do people always think of hide and seek games.
We are going to leave this country soon or later. Do you know that 2050 will hit beyond 10 billion people? How old are you going to be. You need better Zambia now that ever before.
I have never thought why solders take over govts, but now i am educated over it
Ba number 1.3, are you still living in 90 days? Every politicianwhether in USA, Britain, France, German, etc have said something they never achieved in their predicted time. If truly thats what you believed, and its most likely you did, you are really a damn full. How many projects the world over have been accomplished on, worse still in time. They are mainly late, but did you ever call project developers liers? No. Because, sheet happens and it isn’t any ones wish. No one would like not to finish an exam in time. But, does that make you a liar? Be informed that whoever sticks to his plan, even though circumstances have changed, is a fuul and a BIG fuul. You sound like you don’t change you plans according to conditions. So you are a BIG fuul.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D37B-V07mZs
The soap opera ‘Zambia: the illusive constitution’ continues …
Surely, do we have any bit of rule of law or we have surrendered to UN ending shame? Can this government ever do something without controversy? God help Zambia. We must wake up early one morning in 2016 to correct the curse up us.
Dictators and manipulative autocrats love ignorant and sheltered people so they control flow of knowledge and info just to keep their evil grip on society and abuse their resources.Communist China and repressive Burma,here comes zambia to join your coalition of the unwilling and abused masses.
Yes, but without kabimba and gym, things could be running smoothly. But as bembas say- pansaka tapabula fiwelewele, (there is never shot of foools at any gathering).
Hopefully someone will leak an electronic copy of the document into the public domain. PF semi-illiterates thinks they can stop the flow information by stopping the printing of documents.
Ba Mwansa and colleagues pliz make sure u have soft copies in yo homes and some kept in yo emails otherwise these thugs can come and burn yo offices or even yo homes so that the Zambian people are denied once again a pipo driven constitution and money wasted.
Here we go again. After spending tax payers money, the politicians want to hijack the whole process.
Well done Technical Committee, please remain on the side of the people, otherwise history will judge all of you harshly.
We’re doomed if the whole process is about “some people” and their vested interests not about “the nation” and posterity.A good constitution should “offend” all equally and defends all equally.
Spot on!!
hw many coppies would u like to be prited as a committee? why didnt u advice the ministry on the number of coppies u had wanted. if some shuld be given to opposition and all mps sugest so and nt jst making noise. remember it is a draft and not final and much shouldnt be spent on. Besides all stakeholders can be given a soft copy. save money!
Nice user name………. “true”?
In truth, I’m sure the limit of 10 copies is not about “cost savings” as you say.
An example of a true PF minister ‘s best written English! LOL.Can’t wait to get my vote back from these killers. I mean one pf weak cadre was killed by a fellow powerful cadre.MHSRIP.
And when we tell you that you a dealing with a gang of thieves masquerading as a government you insult us….
Zambia has been taken over by a cabal of thieves… you will soon fully realise the mistake you made in 2011 and pay for it dearly.
We will be watching you on CNN soon killing each other
Your bitterness is getting the worse..
The sooner you get rid of this mwachusa masquerading as a bemba the better for the country… in his entire history he has never cared about Zambia
1. Chiluba 3rd term
2. Chawama killings
3. A spy for colonial masters
4. Beating up Kapwepwe
5. Has been a thieve stealing public money from minister of health to Lusaka city council
6. UNIP vigilante
7. the list is endless
Until Zambia is rules by a true Zambian who will have the heart of the country from whatever tribe in Zambia, the country will never get out of the political stagnation of the last 5 decades.
Kaunda – Malawi
Chiluba – Congolese
Banda – Half Zimbabwean
Sata – Tanzanian
The all masqueraded as bemba’s. The truth is no one can ever tell where they were all born.
Zambia needs a true Zambian to rule the country with the heart of a true Zambian of which we are known for all over the world
@TheEngineer(Australia). You have cracked my ribs. He is actually “Mwakyusa”.
Thank you for the correction… we need to get rid of this mwisa.
back to sender
The PF have lost the right to govern if this is what they are up to.
Shame for Zambia.
Correction @Gundixy.There’s never a RIGHT to govern bcoz office is EARNED thru consent of voters.Therefore by hijacking the process,economic mismanagement and introducing a culture of violence,PF has lost the CONSENT (not a right) of the governed.
Thats governance101 for ya.
This govt makes it very difficult for people to respect it, non-stop stupid actions, everyday!
Consitution making in Zambia will always be a wild-goose chase. Every government feels threatened by a new constitution especially one that is suggesting a 50+1 threshold for someone to win the presidency. In my opinion the consitution can only be enacted by a President who is in his second and final term but then again the irony is that their interests are about protecting themselves so they want to ensure a friendly in-coming government. If Mwanawasa the lawyer did not give us a people driven constitution I do not expect this to happen any time soon. All these are half- hearted attempts which only amount to allowances for the so-called commissioners. Let us face facts, we have been yearning for a people driven constitution for too long and it has been elusive because of politics.
PF are naturally inclined to be corrupt, they cant do anything right. They are in government for self gain and have no clue they are heaping a curse upon their own families for generations to come when they disadvantage the poor by being irrisponsible with national resources.
Thanks Ba technical commitee.
WHY PRINTING MILLIONS OF COPIES.
FOR WHAT? FOR WHAT???
DISTRIBUTE THEM AS SOFT COPIES VIA THE INTERNET, CELL PHONE ETC.
PLEASE AVOID INCURRING COSTS WHERE YOU CAN.
WE STILL NEED MONEY FOR UNAVOIDABLE BYE ELECTIONS AND A MASSIVE OF INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WHICH WE HAVE EMBARKED ON…..
Most zambians are riffraffs too poor and cut off from internet access.
I have a feeling Ernest Mwansa is being economical with the truth. Please show us the letter so that we know who our enemy is. We want a good constitution now! I hope this is not another tactic to fatten their pockets so that Silingwe can complete his farm house on the outskirts of Lusaka
Ba Kaamba, “mule ipusha imbwa ngeifwele” I am not Bemba but learnt at school. It means you cannot ask wether a dog is male or female because it does not ware clothes. This is so obvious there is only one important PF cadre at the ministry of justice by the name of kamimbya something.
Kabimba at it again after corrupting to chikwelete to butcher fellow Zambinas. Kabimba must indeed be butchered for peace to return.
Post it on the net so that we can all view it. In that case Sata the monkey and his bamboon government will have little choice to manupulate it. Bravo to the technical committee.
We salute you the sons and daughters of Zambia for adhering to the agreed principles. Remember that Kabimba will not be justice minister forever. Your integrity collectively and individually is at stake if you don’t handle this issue in accordance with the terms of reference. Please take note also that the Ä Team was employed by the Zambian people and as such they need to receive this copy of the most important document in our land. Once again huts off to you for handling this issue above board so far. Just recently Kabimba issued a statement that for the first time the PF will deliver a people constitution. The question now is what is he trying to hide by demanding copies before his employers(Electorate) see it as agreed?
Those who still have faith in SATA and his integrity are either naive or are directly benefiting in monetary terms or in kind.
i think zambians we are just big jokers..this has been the worst constitutional review ever to be be carried out..from start there was no road map,atleast levy had put a clear road map with clear work plan even if the NCC failed
post the document on your website so that it can be accessed by many of us with interest in it. These blood thirst hooligans will do everything to ensure that Zambians don’t get the constitution they want.
It is called kicking the can: each party in power does not want to enact a constitution that threatens its hold on power but would rather defer the issue. Fact that we have been talking about re-writing the constitution since independence all goes to show our attitude towards such a serious document. Honestly we are bored of this constitutional talk dating back to the Kaunda days. Constitutions are sacred documents which should not be changed by the whims of the powers that be. That is why the people we elect have no respect for it because they know they can pee on it whenever they feel like and we do not take them to task. If I was the President I would rather leave a legacy of a constitution which can withstand the test of time. Our kids will judge us harshly if we do not act now.
Writting a constitution that just suits the priorities of the current holders of office and then controlling the infomation flow on the road to its adoption is a recipe for a nation marching towards failure.
As long as we have a draft suiting “big imbwas” at the expense of others in a very unequal animal farm we’re condemning ourselves to be a failed state.To God there’s no such thing like “little people”.
Where are the moralist “Zambia is a Christian nation” group?? They are always quiet when serious issues such as this one and the hacking of PF cadres surfaces. I love genuine followers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who pray for the sinners and admonish ALL not SOME acts of sin.
We spend billions and one guy guy decides we we cannot see the fruit?
I meant admonish all sinners.
Actually what they mean is 10X90 days=90copies for each organisation….
Zambian demons at it again.Thriving on lies and half truths. Useless media with yo gossip and poor writing.Soon this will be another falsehood.
Ulululululululu!
Sumuna umwana
Chachacha Season Two
Really Kabimba must go. He is not good to the country and his party at all.
It is better to resolve any differences of opinion, approach or procedure at consultative level. This can start with phone calls to seek appointment. Members of the delegation would be announced in advance to avoid any embarrassment. I believe that Technical Committee and Justice Ministry are working for the same authority and objective. The media could add sensationalism when that is really beside the point.
Spot on, Doc!
The moment Sata surrounded himself with Kaunda and Cosmo Mumba, I new that dictatorship had come back….Kumulu: LESA, Mpashi: Kaunda…Konse konse…Kaunda yee Kaunda……..We are finished people! We need the peoples’ constitution as soon as yesterday.
For those of us who have interacted with Sata prior to ascendance to the presidency know that this has nothing to do with Kaunda or Lumpen Cosmo Mumba. What you are seeing is Sata and only Sata. Bullying, humiliating others, corruption ne lyashi ya banamayo are his hallmarks.
Babanyokola bama mbala. Enzofuna ya back door constitution? Where is your integrity? Where is the rule of law? Where is justice?
Army needs to takeover the affair and kill the devil
Stand your ground Bemba elders and go ahead. Sata is an evil spirit manifesting in human form, if you listen to him evrything goes into flames and he will stick his head in sand to prestend nothing is going on. He incited youths on radio lyambai in mongu while in opposition to demonstrate against RB’s government and promised to restored Barotse agreement once elected. What followed is something everyone would rather it didn’t happen and its why we are where we today on Barotse issue. PF sympathisers who sent him to state are mourning after yesterday Thursday’s blood bath in the capital-not single word of condemnation of perpetrators of genocide from him. If this isn’t lesson enough I don’t know what is. If you let him install your tradition chief, you will be selling your dignity.
Let them do their work and finish as per the terms of reference.Why handing over to the appointing authority only and not the public as promised?
I seriously doubt Kabimba quite understands the duties and functions of his office as Minister of Justice. He seems to be confusing his ministerial position with his position as a PF functionary! Quite amazing for a so-called learned man.
A government of … in a maize field does as it pleases, not as stakeholders please.