Retired veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga says there is need to seriously consider the idea of holding the 2016 general election together with the referendum on the new constitution if government’s worry is the cost of holding the exercises separately.
Mr. Mwaanga says the idea of holding the two exercises jointly is what government and other stakeholders including the opposition, the church and civil society should be engaging in dialogue on to discuss such a possibility.
Mr. Mwaanga has told Qfm News that unless the country gets the constitution making process right, all efforts being made towards the enactment of the new constitution will come to nothing.
He says Zambians want a good constitution that will protect them from excessive abuse of authority and power so that they can continue enjoying their hard earned independence and democratic rights.
Mr Mwaanga has also reiterated the need for the country to take advantage of the willingness of cooperating partners to help fund country’s constitutional making process.
Cooperating partners are willing to help fund the country’s constitutional making process, even seperately, but it is just this government which is still enjoying corruption allowed by our useless constitution who do not want.
VJ mufanawanga, uli na nzelu maningi.. Firstly it will save the costs. Secondly it will become a campaign issue and so politicians will be forced to explain their position on the matter. As a result we will all know about it. Well said VJ . Uli mwaume iwe.
Well said ba VJ. These people making noise about the constitution have not even taken time to explain the salient points of the doc. It will be important for them to go to the people and explain how this affects the people.
If you ask Father Bwalya probably he will explain nothing.! You NGOs use your money to mobilise people around understanding the doc. Do not come and hide in our churches . The masses are not at the Cathedral ..NOOOOOOO! Go out their.
No, no, no! Ba VJ! We need 50%+1 enacted before 2016. We don’t need delaying tactics and end up voting for a constitution that will be further delayed beyond 2020. Awe, ifwe twakana! Let us have 50%+1 in the next 90 days and then you can talk about referendum. Chapwa!
People pushing for the referendum NOW are not reasonable. Firstly many people do not know what is in the proposed constitution. secondly even the ones who knows may not be interested in the other aspect of the constitution, Politicians only interested in the 50+1. Some are interested in the marriage act so that men can marry men, Chiefs concerned about the issue of land.so we people looking at the constitution from the angle of their interest. Now the posses a danger of passing a bad constitution if passed through a referendum. It is wiser to amend a prevailing constitution
Wise words from our senior.
Let him who has ears listen.
This is how best to rig the 2016 election – no 50 + 1 nonsense.
Viva VJ master dribbler !!
VJ well spoken, may God bless all senior citizens with such wise humility to provide good governance guidance for free! Please Govt any future indaba/dialogue on constitution making process should be held expeditiously and without any sitting allowances. Just involve self-sponsored or volunteer delegates. Lots of resources have been invested and wasted on this matter without tangible solutions. Very soon Opposition Parties will start campaigns for 2016 with folked-tongued/false promises about resolving this matter once elected. Once bitten twice shy, this time any Party that talks about future constitution-making process, please discard them!
No…No…No….. don’t even think about it….it shouldn’t even raise any debate. The damn supreme law has just to be available before 2016….
What guarantee do we have that the so called ‘co-operating’ partners wont dictate certain clauses to us just because they are funding it…?? We take on board ‘partners’ like Sweden, IFM/World bank, UK, US……we know what they expect to see in the Constitution……
Have the days caught up with VJ…??
This is not wisdom but delight confusion being created, Kenya is an excellent example for Zambia. They went to the polls with a new constitution, any misunderstandings that emerged were resolved under the new constitution. This is not a new agenda for the Patriotic Front – President Sata promised the Zambian people to deliver the constitution within 90 days. It is disappointing that citizens would listen to irresponsible remarks such as the one from our Senior citizen. Unfortunately, VJ is not the right person to comment on this matter. He has been part of a grouping that has denied Zambia its much needed constitution. VJ had his time but chose to misled KK, Chiluba and Mwanawasa. The decission requires political will rather than resources.
Is this VJ guy still breathing free supplied air???. shudnt he be quite already?
Thanks VJ. Thats wisdom for sure. Let the political amateurs learn from this old man. God bless you and add to your years. Wise Tonga cultured man
Vipuba vi ma joza.
Mr Mwaanga says, “He says Zambians want a good constitution that will protect them from excessive abuse of authority and power so that they can continue enjoying their hard earned independence and democratic rights.”
1. Do we expect any government to enact a constitution which has so many contentious clauses such as those pertaining to land tenure?
2. Should the President or our Chiefs be in charge?
3. Should we subject this evidently flawed draft constitution to a vote today without first reconciling all the views/opinions?
4. If the draft fails the vote, where are we going to turn to?
While I agree with VJ. The PF Government cannot be trusted with the constitutional making process given the way the have handled the issue to this date. If PF is sincere let them show leadership by engaging political parties and stake holders on the best way to proceed from where we are at. Let them call a meeting NOW at the Cathedral to be chaired by the Church. If Kaunda and Chiluba did it Why can’t PF.
Your Suggestion then Snr Citizen VJ can be dealt with at the INDABA or INSAKA 2014, or what ever name we can call it.