A meeting called by Justice Minister Edgar Lungu with members of the Grand Coalition on Thursday heard that Government is looking at releasing the draft constitution during the Independence Week as a Jubilee gift to Zambians.
According to FODEP Executive Director Macdonald Chipenzi who attended the meeting, Mr Lungu assured his Government’s resolve and commitment to have the final draft constitution released next week.
Mr Chipenzi who is also Grand Coalition Spokesperson told a media briefing that the Coalition hopes that this time around, Government will honour and not back track on its own promises.
“Any backtracking will further erode public confidence which is already at its lowest ebb among the stakeholders in the constitution making process,” Mr Chipenzi said.
Mr Chipenzi said the Grand Coalition remains resolved in demanding for high levels of accountability on the part of the Government with regards to honouring its promises on the constitution.
“We hope that this time around, Government will meet the promised deadline to release the draft constitution to the Zambian people who have been patiently expectant of it.”
The Grand Coalition is appealing to all Zambians to remain resolute, vigilant, united and expectant to receiving the final draft constitution during the Independence week.”
Good news, but we wait and see
This should not be news, just release the bloody thing
A good speech should be like a woman’s skirt; long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest.-Churchill
This is creating wrong ‘interest’
Thanks
Mushota, is that you? Well said, thumbs up!
chipedzi ukutumpa, that meeting we had na bena Lungu was confidential. The government was to announce…. Kulibwenesha sometimes frustrates BaSata. Now he will dump the constitution again.
Mushota that’s beautifully put. I offer you this weekend with me
A crappy document atase.With a lot of unemployment, wage freeze, Ebola and other diseases threatening our people olo twikalilefye ka document aka ? This won`t change anything to my life. Ukokwine !
Is that Mushota for real? I don’t like Mushota but today I like her comment. Keep it up young lady/gentleman.
Now if this news is true, then it is more than welcome. It’s long overdue anyway.
How can Zambians be gifted with their own document?!
@Mushota is making amends for her errors. She can feel the winds of change picking up and so she wants to be on the right side of the argument.
Coming to the point, Zambians dont need a Jubilee present. This act is well overdue. The document should have been handed to the people ages ago. Furthermore, we are not being done a favour. Lets wait and hear them say that they dont have the resources to complete the prosess now but after 2016. So lets not rejoice yet.
Releasing the document does not bring about much change from the current impasse. People should look at the 2014-15 budget allocations and figure out whether or not there is anything to cover the next steps in the constitution reform process, including the promised referendum?
I am also beginning to realise that the whole exercise maybe a sheer waste of money considering the fact that it is the mindsets of the majority Zambians that is in need of urgent change before we can even think of a consititution fit for the 21st Centuary. The majority Zambians are simply too gullible or driven by poverty to comprehend what is at stake. Otherwise it will just be another document only useful to the 3 wings of Government who cant challenge it other for fear of “rocking the boat”.
@Suntwe, I like your comment! It’s hilarious and factual at the same time. How can you be gifted with your own thing? Is this not synonymous to taking ones wife in full view of the husband and really taking her! Then bringing her back to gift the husband with his own wife when I am well spent? LOL…you can only do this to Zombies, sorry, just my fat fingers – Zambians.
Let’s not celebrate before we see the document. With PF anything is possible. What am failing to understand is who is the stumbling block to the releasal of this document? Is it Kabimba or Sata who on several times in public showed that he was not for the Idea of the constitution? Is it Kabimba who used to give wrong advice to the poor man capitalising on is ignorance or what? Or is it that the poor Man at the helm of the ship of the state is no more such that uncle Lungu want to take advantage of it in is presidential ambitions and show it that Kabimba was one blocking the process?
They are just “looking” to release the final draft as a consideration. PF must simply put it that, next week the draft constitution will be released to the public domain and not hiding behind lip services.
This PF Donchi Kubeba party enjoys bringing anxiety disorder characterized by fake promises.
Just release the new constitution PF and stop denying people their fundamental rights. PF is not the last regime, change is on the horizon as it can be seen from RB crying about spilled milk (The Constitution) he also failed to qualify.
Hon Edgar Lungu, stop looking and start seeing please.
whatever, as for me the constitution is not a priority, tell about job creation and infrastructure development that will be the best Jubilee gift
Firstly,Edgar should not say the constitution will be a gift to Zambians,what? Does he know that it was the people on whose money,time and interest this constitution was formulated? I love Edgar but this is careless talking.
Was equally wondering about this being a gift for Zambians really? It’s not a gift it belongs to us. This process should have been completed years ago maybe even decades ago. What makes you Lungu and PF to think that it belongs to you and you are today doing us a favor by handing it over to the rightful owners?
Wow, now that’s good news ! That`s my Lungu the big buyer right there. Ni Friday Mbuya, tizamwa chani lelo !
A GIFT IS MEANT TO BE A SURPRISE MR PRESIDENT, OH SORRY MR MINISTER.
..DRAFT for a gift…??…..I certainly don’t need it. Giving you a model of a house, a picture of a car, a promissory note as a gift on your birth day….???
Just release the dam draft without further ado…..its like someone borrowing money from and promises to it back in 90 days, 1095 days later despite several reminders, still no payment made…..only to be given a promissory note….not even a post dated cheque….that note will be received but with some reservations…no excitement expected…..
Cantankerous PF only need to own-up and do the right thing; and stop the “gift” nonsensical notion. It is repugnant.
The draft constitution was RELEASED long time ago early this year by the ZAMBIAN WATCHDOG. We already have the copy, so this is a warning to EDGAR LUNGU not to delete sentences in the draft because we know what is there already. Just make it formal. MOST IMPORTANTLY, talking about releasing the draft is redundant; people don’t just want the release. People want enactment, otherwise kuyabebele in 2016 and I’m not joking. The rest of the country (apart from the 3 Bemba northern provinces) is tired with PF’s dullness, poor standards, cluelessness, corruption, stealing, and tribalism.
Can’t you just talk about the constitution? Need we begin a debate on which province or how many provinces are for and/or against PF? The issue at hand is constitution not your rants about who will win in 2016. Leave that to God for now. Anyway, let the long awaited document come so we can review it.
@ Chimutengo
What is burning you? Facts are very bitter.
@ Chimutengo
Is it my fault to talk about provinces and 2016 elections in relation to the release and enactment of the new constitution? You have your analysis all twisted up. Go and ask the government to change their ways. The voters kept their promise by voting PF into power. PF violated its promises the moment the nation voted the party into power. So PLEASE go back to PF and ask them to behave like adults. There is no country in Africa where the ruling party has abused its voters like in Zambia. At least in dictatorial countries the citizens are told what to expect from the dictatorial ruling party – which is NOTHING, but at least that is what everybody is expecting! PF lied to the voters all over the country. It’s not fair and I don’t know on whose side YOU ARE !
The draft Constitution is already a contentious document (chiefs, education, 50+1 clause, presidential running mate etc). Is this damn document going to put food on my table, create employment, build more hostels, put more “truant and thieving hooligan” students on bursaries? Just what does the opportunistic opposition and CSOs (fattened by the West and most of them divorcees, spinsters and ba pimpula) want to do with the documa?
Building of roads, infrastructure, good conditions of service, good governance, education, medical care, energy, water and sanitation is a MUST. Just do the needful and forget about that stupid document. We are paying enough taxes and entitled to these things you lumpens. I will never vote for for some of you (no wonder you have been on sidelines for donkey…
@Chitapi -Good observation!The draft constitution was released way back!We need the referandum & final constitution now not this nonsesical draft!Only airheads perceive this speculation of releasing the draft as a gift or good move!
Release it fast as long as it is the same we have read apart from a few issues its fine boss ba Ed but now if it differs that is a big problem for you because everyone is watching. People are now clever and are watching YOUUUUUUUUUUUU.
Great news! Way to go PF. Has Lungu himself already made this statement? Let’s wait and see our serious office bearers like Lungu producing results. You just have to love PF.
Kabimba must have done a lot of background work on the constitution in the last 3 years, for Lungu to so easily have it ready so soon!
Release it at Jubilee Week!! Good ploy! Citizens will get a great adrenaline rush and those celebrations go with a BANG!!
Give people good news!
Release then no money for the next step. ****ING AFRICAN MAN!! Give a detailed road map
In UK u will be surprised how Drs/police take time to explain a damn simple thing to a homeless trump, Africans don’t even care for the whole nation. SHIT MEN!
I hope the kind of Mushota who made the first posting is an imposter. Mushota the elegant lady who has gracefully graced Lusaka Times with candid comments in defense of democracy and development embarked on by the PF government and President Sata, can never be expected to be a turn coat. In any case I expect the real Mushota to come out clean on the direction of the first comment. Is it in condemnation of the constitution process or is it a way of parting company with those of us who are for PF and Sata? Further still if indeed it’s you the real Mushota who made that comment, how do you feel being praised by the likes of Nostradamus and a horde of other anti-Sata individuals? Please explain to me to clear my confusion.
Ka beerman. Even the eyes tell it all. Detoxify for a month man.
UMMMMMMMM, aka nako, kakosa nelyo ni ka chola boy! But you are better than one Bootlicker Kabimba he went too far even acting as if he was president already maybe muti walengele, better brown bottle than ARVs pantu they make them see things in dimensions! Anyway, enjoy while it lasts pantu the Bembas are coming! hahahahahhahahahhahahahhahah Friday Njikata!
There is no gift to talk about just give Zambians what they deserve,waited for too long as though PF has done any thing to the constitution to merit praise.
Does the draft include a provision for dual citizen ship?if it does not then WTF
@ Mortgage Brick wall Phiri…. you are lazy. There is no such thing as a single or dual citizen ship…. lol, anyways, on a more serious note, why can’t you get this info yourself?
…eat that.
Dual citizenship
18. (1) A citizen shall not lose citizenship by acquiring the citizenship of another country.
(2) A citizen who ceased to be a citizen, before the commencement of this Constitution as a result of acquiring the citizenship of another country, shall be entitled to apply, as prescribed, to the Citizenship Board of Zambia, for citizenship and the Board shall bestow citizenship on that person.