UNITED States Ambassador to Zambia, Eric Schutz, says it will be difficult for any donor to finance the holding of a national referendum to adopt the new Constitution in Zambia because of the period and cost involved.
Mr. Schutz said holding a referendum was like holding another presidential election given the amount of money to be spent.
Answering questions from Copperbelt University (CBU) students when he visited the American Corner, Mr Schutz felt that Government and Non-Governmental Organisations could still dialogue to find the best way of adopting the new Constitution.
Mr Schutz however said the donor community was waiting patiently to see how the country could come up with a people-driven constitution which would stand the test of time.
The Grand Coalition on the Campaign for a people driven Constitution has maintained that Zambia’s new Constitution can only stand the test of time and command the respect of all citizens if it is adopted through a referendum.
If we go by the referendum, we are likely to have 3 elections next year (being the referendum, General elections and a possible re-run based on the much talked about 50+1) thats if the referendum goes through. The question is; whose going to fund all this?? What if the referendum doesnt go through, then what next???
NANGA NINDALAMA ZANYOKO?
Its ok if thats what will make zambia a good country
You prefer to have a minority president with no legitimacy? Do you know the cost involved?? You have to continue to have a bloated cabinet, hiring criminals to do this and that for the president. Some people have said ‘they are friends of the president’ . How?? Every Zambian must be a friend of the president if that president is worth to be called so. Give us the constitution according to the laws of Zambia. ‘Kwamana’ Guy Scot would say.
That’s dependence on donors for everything. They call the shots for you! Yet we are so wasteful of own resources! Next donors will fund same sex marriages!
Zambia has the money. If our politicians are patriotic enough and claim to serve the interest of the people, let them reduce their salaries to K5,000 or nil for the next 12months. After-all most of them have businesses that can sustain them for the period. Let see if they can die a little for our country. If I was the president or mp that’s what I would propose. We don’t need donor funding – we need to our own solution to our local problem. Let them politicians sacrifice a little .
Surely if they can fund the elections then they can also fund the constitution .
So, you would rather you allowed these imperialists to continue making you feel you can’t exist without their money? These are sadists who want you to always depend on them. Wake up, man!
Ssssshhhhh Ambassador Shultz. Don’t upset the Grand Coalition
The UPND’s Grand Coalition!
He needs to upset them. He just said holding a referendum is as costly as having a presidential election. In plain language he is saying dont do things without foresight and kosa konda ku pempha pempha nthawi zonse! Ndipo tapuba ise pela.
Zambians need to just pay more taxes to cover their own bills. How long will taxpayers on the other side of the globe pay for us?
Not only will more tax stop us from hearing donors on internal matters, but will also make Zambians sensitive to careless spending like big cabinets, by-elections, reckless borrowings, cabinet and other public servants lining up at the airport on our bill etc.
We have enough resources within to rid ourselves of donor funds, just by taxing the mines correctly as well.
Let me awake from my slumber. Won’t happen under PF. Ifintu ni Lungu?
No, ZRA needs to start collecting all the tax that is literally slipping through their fingers. People rent out houses but don’t pay tax for that income, small business owners rarely pay tax too. You can’t just rely on the small population in formal employment. I agree on the mines as well. They need to pay their fair share of tax!
@Wise one If we can afford to pay a 60 minister cabinet and pay for Edgar’s Holidays why should we fail to pay for 3 elections including referendum as you put it?
Its better to spend more rather than having a genocide because of rigged elections.In 2016 we shall not accept any riging.People can only be united through a populary elected president.
We seem to be forgetting one basic fact……this country is broke! Can’t u see the rate at which ABC is borrowing? That being the case, we shall need to borrow for. Referendum en if it fails, borrow again en if it works out, finance the general election! I don’t see this govt making it for sure!!!!! Let’s wait en see
Ambassador has seen madness in some corner….. kikiki
MR. SCHUTZ DON’T MISLEAD THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE. A REFERENDUM IS A MUST FOR ZAMBIA TO FACILITATE ADOPTION OF THE NEW CONSTITUTION. ZAMBIA HAS VERY STRONG BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA THAT ARE WILLING TO FUND THIS BY-ELECTION. MORE OVER, ZAMBIA CAN STILL MOBILIZE IT’S OWN RESOURCES TO FUND THE REFERENDUM SO THAT IT PASSES THRU. PLEASE DON’T DISCOURAGE US AND MAKE US FLOAT OUR LAW IN AS FAR AS HANDLING THIS SENSITIVE ISSUE IS CONCERNED. THE REASON SCHUTZ IS SAYING WHAT HE SAID IS BECAUSE UK, FRANCE AND AMERICA ARE NOT HAPPY THAT LUNGU DID NOT RETAIN SCOT AS VICE PRESIDENT. DIDN’T YOU REALIZE WHY KWACHA IS PLUMMETING? OPEN YOUR EYES ZAMBIANS! BAD LEADERS WILL COST YOUR COUNTRY A GREAT DEAL!
A must??!!! do you have the resources to do it. So , its a case of putting the mouth where the money is, and not vice-vasa
Did anyone ask for your stupid opinion? sii ndarama sà nyoko.
Donor money is his money as he represents his government here.
As the lead cheerleader of Nawakwi, everyday I see the UPND losing traction. Not even people supposed to be on their side are with them. Let us promote greatness, vote nawakwi 2016, the winner of the presidential debates.
Your nzelu has maggots. Go for a check up
It is either constitution through parliament or no new constitution at all. Who will lose out? All of us. Let it go through Parliament now as govt. is suggesting so that seriousness can be seen. Enacting the constitution next year in the dying minutes, we will term it as campaign strategy. Now is the ripe time.
I interviewed some marketeers in solwezi recently and asked if they knew what a referendum is, and they said echinshi chyo mayo? They said all they are waiting for now are presidential campaigns as they benefit tutenge and t-shirts. How will anyone convince them to go and vote in a referendum with no pictures of a presidential aspirants. Referendum teinonshita, let’s be realistic. Time is short and resources are not available.
Its easy, don’t hold a national referendum because it does not look like it will happen!
The parties for our next election should state that if they are voted in and win they take it as a referendum for the new constitution, combine the two and save a lot of money and changing goal posts!
The constition to be made public well before time so that we have time to study it, it may have faults but if on the whole its good vote for that party by agreeing to it.
@Kalulu
So what you are suggesting is that each Party come up with their own version of the Constitution???? Really?
The Constituion can not be dealt with in that way. Come on….what a nightmare. Is it not fair to say we may actually need to have a referendum for each Party version!
What peasouper!! I am laughing right now! The sheer confusion of it all.
However it’s clear from your suggestion that this is not a tussle about the Constituion for most opposition parties, but a mere attempt to delay it so they have it as a great election nibble in their manifesto. That then indicates clearly to PF to step on it double tout fast!!
@Kalulu
So what you are suggesting is that each Party come up with their own version of the Constitution???? Really?
The Constitution can’t be dealt with in that way. Come on….what a nightmare. Is it not fair to say we may actually need to have a referendum for each Party version!
What peasouper!! I am laughing right now! The sheer confusion of it all.
However it’s clear from your suggestion that this is not a tussle about the Constitution for most opposition parties, but a mere attempt to delay it, so they have it as a great election nibble in their manifesto. That then indicates clearly to PF to step on it, double tout fast!!
Dear Zambia
Please act with real intellect. Election after election, non payment of corporation taxes by Mining companies etc. etc. means we do NOT have revenue to hold referendum….at the behest of some very silly Opposition lead Grand Coalition groups.
We the citizens can trust in our gov’t. Especially under His Excellency President Lungu, a Lawyer. We need to get that Constitution out, stat. It’s become a cause for mischief among opposition and interest groups looking to justify their funding from abroad.
I would say, there should be no more reliance on overseas funders; it’s just a ridiculous way to run a country..with a Begging Bowl Mentality.
As for all the UPND and NGO Grand Imposition Group, please….crawl back into your holes and let His Excellency President…
…please….crawl back into your holes and let His Excellency President Lungu LEAD US. Too many back seat, back street drivers interfering.
The citizenry must mature and become adapt at reading the Opposition groups in Zambia. The UPND being the most disruptive and frankly though they represent themselves as educated; they actually amount to nothing more than a bunch if overly hungry vultures, salivating down their grubby cheeks at the very thought of occupying State House. In fact nothing more than questionably ‘educated intellectual morons.’
Delays and pretending to be overly ‘checking and balancing,’ will not affect PF’s chances come 2016.
Even a kid living in a mud hut can see the path through this Forrest.
You speak like u have maggots in your brain
Hold the referendum and elections at the same time.
Wether we include the 50% + 1 in the constitution UPND will never win any elections and HH can never ever be President of Zambia in his lifetime
The few of us that know are not surprised at Schultz’s conclusion: the US aid is the most tied. Calculations show that 73% of US aid is tied to American interests, i.e, the US only funds programmes and projects that will benefit Americans directly through consultancies, management, supplies of goods and services or support American global imperialist policies! Funding the referendum fails the aid tie-in criteria for the mighty USA.
What are the components of this so-called high cost of referendum:
1. Corruption
2. Extortionist allowances for commissioners and employees of ECZ assigned to the project
3. Inefficiency and wastefulness of resources
4. Theft and criminality
Reducing the foregoing by just 50% at ECZ will make referendum affordable and within the means of Zambia.