The National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has planned to adopt reports of at least six committees by the end of this year.
The NCC divided its work into 11 committees, under which each article of the Mung’omba draft constitution, which is a term of reference, falls.
NCC Chairperson, Chifumu Banda, said at a press briefing in Lusaka today that so far, three committees have already concluded their deliberations on their terms of reference.
Mr. Banda said committees that have concluded deliberations on their terms of reference are the Citizenship committee, the Judicial Committee and the Public Service committee.
“The reports of these committees are being finalised by the secretariat. The members of these committees will be called again for a few days to come and approve these reports before presentation to the conference for deliberation and adoption,” Mr. Banda said.
He told journalists that three other committees have since been called to meet next month to deliberate on their terms of reference for 20 working days before parliament resumes sitting in August this year.
The three committees that would meet in July are the Democratic Governance, the Local Government and the Public Finance.
Mr. Banda explained that the NCC has planned to meet in September and August this year when parliament would be on recess to adopt the six reports of the committees.
“The NCC will meet to adopt six reports of the Citizenship committee, the Democratic Governance Committee, the Judicial Committee, the Local Government Committee, the Public Service Committee and the Public Finance Committee,” he said.
He said if everything worked according to the NCC schedule, the six reports should be considered before parliament resumes its business in November 2008.
He said the conference would from 1st December this year to early January 2009, call other committees to deliberate on their terms of reference.
“As you can see, we intend to adopt at the very least, reports of six committees. This means come next year, we will have only five committees or less to attend to,” he said.
Mr. Banda said after this, the conference would need six days in which to publish the initially adopted constitution to enable members of the public make comments on it.
“The adopted constitution will be translated in all major local languages and public discussions will be held on radio and television so that the people are fully involved,” he added.
The NCC Chairman explained that the NCC would after six days of publishing the initially adopted constitution, meet to consider comments from the public and then adopt the draft constitution.
“We intend to listen to the people very carefully. As you know NCC members are, by law, accountable to the Zambian people,” he said.
He further said after the draft constitution is adopted, the NCC members would decide whether to submit the entire draft constitution to the national referendum or to parliament for immediate enactment of those parts whose alteration would not require a national referendum.
He said if such parts of the constitution were submitted to parliament for immediate enactment, then those parts that required a national referendum would be submitted to the referendum.
Mr. Banda cited part III, which is the Bill of Rights, and Article 79 of the current constitution and other articles in the Mung’omba draft constitutions over which the NCC has failed to reach a decision as some of the parts that could require a national referendum before parliament enacts the final constitution.
He has since thanked individuals and government departments that sent officers to brief NCC members of committees on various important issues.
The NCC started sitting in December last year to deliberate, debate and finally adopt the draft Mung’omba constitution, which was a result of the Mung’omba Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) that was created in 2003.
Over 400 people from different professions, occupations and careers form the NCC composition and are sitting on 11 committees which are deliberating the terms of reference of the Mung’omba draft constitution.
ENDS/KSH/AM/ZANIS
On which website are NCC’s materials posted for citizens to read through their deliberations? Are these deliberations a state secret just like the tunnels?
When is Zambia going to grow up and share its critical information among citizens? This is a true sign that Zambia is a failed state.
This is appalling 20 days to adopt terms of reference! Are these guys okey, I will check where the website is and share it with you guys if it exists.
It has really taken long. I’m sure the constitiution wont be adopted by 2011. What do they fear? Or its allowances they go for? We must be powerful!
I would to see the new constitution adopted! I am waiting!
A’chifumu is just a remote control in the hand of the master! I am sure that committee have nothing to do with the final product but the king!!!
In the end there will be surprises… We really have to see where the five years have been invested not forgetting our money!!!
Why should it take so long to adopt an already drafted constitution? Am I missing something here? Is the NCC meant to draft or debate and adopt the Mung’omba draft constitution? Why should it take one year to adopt proposals from committees? Then when will the constitution be adopted? Another five years and billions of Kwacha appear to be wasted once again. What a mess for this govt!
# 3 and 4, Are you Imfumu yaba ShaMfumu – that will be the correct translation of King of Kings, if thats what you wanted to be called.
While I appreciate the need for a thorough and comprehensive analysis of the draft constitution, I am of the view that the long ‘delay’ is to allow for more “Sitting’ Allowances – a very selfish agenda!
“This is a true sign that Zambia is a failed state” End Quote
Zambian Ninja # 1,
Why do you blog things you have multiple challenges on? Do you know what a failed state is? Share here 5 characteristics of a failed state state making you say Zambia is one such.
I should probably take back my observation on Mfumu Yama Mfumu. If you read that in Tumbuka or Nyanja, it sounds okay. I should have thought about that.
7. Pragma.
Not everything needs 5 characteristics to be confirmed or in the same group. E.g paper does not alway have to be white. It can be red, the other blue, the other brown but it is still paper. Also for two items to be the same they can only share 1 characteristic. E.g. Two diamonds can be totally different in shade, size, price etc. But the only thing they have in common 1, they are carbon. It does not have to be 5.
So Ninja – dont bother coming up with 5.
This Committee is interestig!
1. Over 400 people!
2. Get K500,000 per sitting!
3. Since Dec 2007!
4. By Jan 2009, they will be like just starting the business!
My question is, when are they going to finish and how much money would have been wasted?
Definitely, anyone in his right frame of mind would drag this committee until he is able to buy an earoplane.
King David,
Sober up and show us here what you know about a failed state.What attributes of a failed state has Zambia got to confuse you with such a baseless classification.This is why in real sense you neither gain moral authority nor mileage with your blogging vocations. Rumbling philosophical rhetoric that is void of logic should not be of this privileged age.Zambia has never been closer to a failed state since 1991. Even the most pervasive FJT could not be allowed by vigilant Zambians to drag the country to that edge.
correction
Zambia has never been closer to a failed state since “1964 and not 1991”.
Zambians we loose track when we get involved in money.
Pragma ha ha ha ha welcome back.ouch Mwiinga u know waht i mean. Ba Zambia have some patience let us see what will happen this time around. You have been so patient with the Mwanakatwe and Mungomba why not today. ok i have been looking for the site as well. The only thing that i have seen from them are the leflets…….pipo pa zed… are the NCC sittings aired on home service and other community radio stations? are the pipo in the rural areas well informed?
Those that a poor will be MORE poorer and those that are rich will be MORE richer…..K500,000 per sitting? then we have mane pa Zed.
#9 King David,
Thanks.
Read my ideas on Rural Roads and what we must do to develop the roads industry!
Mr Chifumu Banda SIR,
Deliberations of the committees of NCC should be published on the net.Are they so secretive. we need to read them.