People’s Party (PP) President, Mike Mulongoti says government is trying to provoke Zambians by denying them simultaneous access to the final draft constitution.
Mr Mulongoti has told QFM in an interview that the directive by Justice Wynter Kabimba to the Technical Committee to print ten copies of the final draft constitution is in absolute defiance of both the terms of reference and expectations of the Zambian people to have the copies released simultaneously to the public as well as the Executive.
Mr. Mulongoti has since advised the Patriotic Front (PF) government not to have rendered the constitution useless even before it is released to the people of Zambia.
He says there is need for transparency in the entire constitution making process noting that people want their submissions to be respected and not altered.
Mr. Mulongoti says the position taken by the Executive is provocative in a country which has invested so much and waited so long for a credible people driven constitution.
He states that there is something that government is hiding over the draft Constitution by trying to defy the terms of reference of the technical committee drafting the constitution which will not make the constitution a people driven one.
And Political Analyst Dante Saunders says it is now clear that Zambia under the leadership of the Patriotic Front will not have a new people driven constitution.
Speaking to Qfm in an interview, Mr. Saunders notes that this can be seen from the decision by government to direct the technical committee drafting the constitution to print only ten copies of the final draft.
He says the PF should realize that asking the technical committee to print only ten copies has raised suspicions among the Zambian Zambia.
He states that there is nothing wrong in submitting the draft constitution to the President and the Public at the same time but that there is everything wrong with submitting the document to the President while denying people first hand access.
Mr. Saunders says the PF should realize that having a good people driven constitution will also protect them once they leave office as opposed to the current constitution.
He has since commended the technical committee drafting the constitution for refusing to sign the final draft in view of the directive to print only ten copies.
You can always make photocopies bosses.Don`t worry it wont be like a secrete document or anything.It will eventually find itself into the public domain. Eagerly waiting for a copy myself.
If there is nothing fishy about the printing of only 10 draft constitution copies why not issue a statement to say all departments and universities will get a copy each for all those interested to copy.
I have lost faith in the Panga Fighters(PF). They have not fulfilled a single promise in their manifesto since they came to power. So what makes people think they will not manipulate the constitution this time around.
They have abrogated their responsibilities to ensure that the poor get a good quality of life by allowing the cost of living to double in 2 years. I fear in five years the cost of living will be 5 times higher than it was in 2011.
PF is worst government ever in the history of Zambia.
My opinion!
Annoying issue is having guts of faking a PM report and then secretly bury a zambian without the concert of his relatives.
I hope now Zambians can see reasons of implementing public arrest starting with the one in charge of the mortuary , medical officer and the one who signed for the body.
Copies of the document is not a very serious issue, can be photo copies or downloaded from internet.
With so much technology available, one copy can reach the entire world.
For a party leader to make such remarks shows limits in his thinking and lack
of consultation with his advisers, if he has any.
You must’ve been born last nite Mr. Saulosi. Those 10 copies are meant for specific people and will not be available to be photocopied – nor will the draft be available on-line. The whole idea by Sata (yes, it’s him who ordered Kabimba to instruct that only 10 copies should be printed) is to manipulate some clauses, e.g., the ‘presidential running mate’ clause which they don’t want after seeing the fiasco in Malawi involving the late Mutharika and Joyce Banda. Don’t be naive.
The implication of it not being released to the Public is that the public will have NO BASIS to discuss a constitution which remains a classfied document ( a preserve of the President and his 9 other men). Thats why it NEEDS to be released to BOTH at ONCE.
The implication of it not being released to the Public is that the public will have NO BASIS to discuss a constitution which remains a classfied document ( a preserve of the President and his 9 other men). Thats why it NEEDS to be released to BOTH at ONCE. The Tech Committee is on firm grounds to refuse to print the 10 copies…
What kind of constitution do we expect under such an atmosphere where the Executive is too economical with the Truth?
In Civilized worlds, Governments have Official Websites where such things are posted for all Citizens to fully participate. Our friends in Botswana for example have a fully developed Government Website where you are able to access the Constitution, check examination results for your child without having to travel, information about every ministry, etc. their literacy levels have surpassed ours and approaching 95%.
The trouble for Zed is that MMD, now turned PF killed the Education system. The more illiterates you have, the easier it is to win elections and therefore something for the ego and the belly!
If Radio Phoenix and QFM cannot be allowed to broadcast…
The ten copies are meant to be given only to the ‘Appointing Authority’ and will not be available as long as Technical Committee representing the public refuse to endorse them. It is a stalemate.
Naha ya litoto!
Naku sepa Sepo.
Print as many as necessary and then, give PF their 10 copies. PF wants 10 only, print them the 10, but the rest to all Zambians as long as they need a copy too. Its people driven constitution isn’t?
Keba libala kuli ki ‘People Driven Consitution’. Babata kuli ibe ‘Appointing Authority’ driven Consititution. U bulezi niti kezeli kuli ki naha ya litoto.
@ Italian Presd and Simms.
Copies of the constitution is the whole issue holding the process. The ten copies ARE ONLY MEANT FOR THE PRESIDENT. All that talk about photocopying and internet is meaningless coz there are no copies meant for the public. I hope this vindicates Mulongoti’s perceived limited thinking.
Yaba – confused English grammar like the author himself! Just blog in Bemba if you are having problems with chizungu baba!
Kimawiko fella lyanganu ze.
????At jungle boy, go in the bush and clean your mind, we know we are dealing with third term crooks, all the president needs is just one copy. If they want let them post it on the Internet and we will download it ourselves
Chilyata you have disappointed me by labeling my comment ‘Confused grammar like that of the author. And Octupus you have shocked me by completely failing to understand the statement ‘THE 10 COPIES ARE ONLY MEANT FOR THE PRESIDENT AND NOT FOR THE PUBLIC’. Ha ha ha. Both of you have made my day.
True!
This is why Wise countries have Government Websites where such are posted!
Printing is wastage of resources and is not Environmentally friendly!
Mike Mulongoti just like VJ should also go to hell. When you were in MMD you used to give all sorts of excuses against giving us a people driven constitution. Today you are on the other side out of govt (you never thought you would) and you want a people driven constitution. Why now when not long ago in MMD you didnt want it? you have no moral right to talk about the constitution.
one question.Are they right(these people who wea in MMD) to demand for the draft constitution to be accessible to all zambians?
@Jungle boy how can the Presidento read ten copies alone? He will give some to other people like pastors since they are trusted
Mulongoti naiwe wilasabaila, niwe wali ka campaign Manager together with Mpombo ku copperbelt me fimbwi me. Mona kwati ni piggy
I meant mwe ba Chimbwi bakaena mwe
Mike, you were in MMD government and failed to deliver a people driven constitution. The draft constitution from the technical committee is not the final version.
New party is needed without old crooks u are not going any mwanawasa was the only president in zambia wish he can rise up
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