Thursday, March 28, 2024

Grand Coalition give draft constitution thumbs up

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NGOCC chairperson Beatrice Grillo talking during the meeting that was held to demand for the release of the draft Zambian constitution
NGOCC chairperson Beatrice Grillo talking during the meeting that was held to demand for the release of the draft Zambian constitution

The Grand Coalition championing the speedy enactment of the new republican Constitution has given its thumbs up to the final draft constitution released by government recently.

The Grand Coalition has observed that most submissions made during national convention on the constitution have been adequately reflected in the final draft constitution.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka today, Grand Coalition Acting Vice Chairperson Beatrice Grillo, said that the Grand Coalition met on 25th and 26th October, 2014 to validate the final draft constitution.

Ms Grillo said that the Technical Committee must be commended for doing a good job by ensuring that the wishes of the people of Zambia are respected.

Ms Grillo said that the Technical Committee took on board most of the recommendations from the broad-based and consultative district, provincial and national conventions, reflecting the wishes and aspirations of Zambians in the final draft constitution.

She stated that a few provisions that have not been included can be dealt with in subsidiary legislation and that they do not see any significant challenge with the speedy finalization of the national constitution.
Ms Grillo has however observed that previous constitution reform processes in Zambia have strategically died with the release of the final draft constitution.

She is hopeful that this time around, the Zambian people will not be taken for granted.

And Ms Grillo has noted that if the country had a good constitution, the forthcoming presidential by-election would have been avoided.

Ms Grillo, who is also Non Governmental Organization Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Board Chairperson, demands that a referendum in which to adopt a new republican constitution be held as soon as possible.

And The Grand Coalition on the people driven Constitution has developed a constitution road-map and has also come up with a strategy to mobilise funds for the constitution.

And the Grand Coalition has said the Constitution to be given to the Zambian people is a must and non-negotiable issue.

Coalition Acting Chairperson Beatrice Grilllo who commended Government for releasing the draft constitution said the document contains 90 percent of the issues required by the people and there is no-going back.

Ms. Grillo said Zambians have reached political maturity and cannot accept political manoeuvres any more from government on the constitution making process.

Ms. Grillo who is also Non-Governmental Organization Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Board Chairperson, said the Coalition would continue talking to enact the document through a national referendum because their message on the constitution is undoubtedly hitting hard.

Ms. Grillo, who was in the company of Operation Young Vote Executive Director Guess Nyirenda and Zambia Council for Social Development Lewis Mwape, said the position of government on the constitution road-map is lacks seriousness.

She disclosed that the Coalition would soon launch country-wide sensitization campaigns to demand for the release of the people driven constitution before 2016.

Those who attended the press briefing include UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, People’s Party Mike Mulongoti, Edwin Sakala (ZDDM), Langton Sichone (ZADECO), Edith Nawakwi (FDD) Nason Msoni (APC) Tentani Mwanza (NDP) and Alfred Ndhlovu who represented the MMD.

6 COMMENTS

  1. if i were HH i would not have contested the by election i wud just say we are mourning. PF sucess is every where I doubt what oposition wud tell us. 2016 might give opposition some immunition not now.

    • TO BE HONEST YOU ARE RIGHT. THAT WOULD EVEN GIVE MORE STEAM TO THE OPPOSITION SHOULD PF FAIL IN THE ABSENCE OF SATA. IT CAN BE AN AUTOMATIC WIN TO THE OPPOSITION IN 2016. BUT THE WAY WE KNOW ABENA HH AND ABENA MUMBA THEY ARE SO DESPERATE FOR PLOT 1 THEY WILL EVEN STRIP AND DIVE ON THE TAR ROAD IN CASE IT IS A SWIMMING. EVEN IF PF DOES MODERATELY WELL, THEIR PATIENCE WOULD STILL EARN THEM A LOT OF PEOPLE’S RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE TO HAVE JUST A 50/50 CONTEST IN 2016 GENERAL AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. TO BE HONEST FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS THE OPPOSITION SHOULD JUST CONCENTRATE ON THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION AND REORGANIZING THEIR PARTIES.

    • Ms Grillo, this Constitution can be enacted TOMORROW by a 2/3rds majority in Parliament and save us the cost of another National vote!

      Can we please have this NOW!

  2. This delay has worked to the disadv of some few candidates who could have been presidential hopeful. But so is life, we just have to continue living. I hope you don’t plan to launch country wide sentisisation now…. it will be too much taking into account the ongoing presidential campaigns. Some people may get confused and end up not participating in the presidential elections.

  3. MCS my man of action has scored 90% on a quality constitution. HH and Grilled Grilo are trying to gain mileage just to enact it. It took painstaking work to reach where it is. Thanks to our great Leader. We shall miss him.

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