NATIONAL Constitution Conference (NCC) Chairperson Chifumu Banda says he is hopeful the plenary of the conference will work with caution and great speed in adopting the recommendations of its 11 committees into the country’s new draft constitution.
Mr Banda urged members of the NCC to ensure they work hard in adopting the recommendations to come up with a good constitution for the country.
“We should, therefore, be prepared to work extra-hard to ensure that we fulfil our mandate to deliver to our people a good constitution,” he said.
Mr Banda said this during the opening of the NCC plenary at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka yesterday.
He said this is because the nation is focussing on what the conference will put into the new constitution.
“Let me state from the outset that we are convening at a time when the entire nation is focussing on what we are going to factor into the new constitution. It, therefore, goes without saying that there is indeed a lot of hard work ahead of us for the time we will be here during this session of the plenary,” Mr Banda said.
He said the beginning of the plenary session has triggered the commencement of the drafting of the new constitution despite what he called heavy criticism from various stakeholders who have been anxious to have a new constitution before the next general elections.
Mr Banda lamented that the NCC has lost its pioneer, late President Levy Mwanawasa, through death since it adjourned on May 9, last year.
He commended President Mwanawasa for having been the first President in the country to allow a popular body to adopt the republican constitution.
“As we recall, Dr Mwanawasa, SC, was the first President in Zambia to authorise a popular body to adopt the republican constitution. I believe that this paradigm shift constituted one of his most important legacies, thereby enabling the people of Zambia to participate fully in the constitution-making process from the beginning to the end,” Mr Banda said.
He also bemoaned that the conference has been robbed of a number of its members by death since it last adjourned.
“ It is also unfortunate that since we last adjourned, death has robbed us of our distinguished members such as Mr Charles Saviye, who died on the 11th July, 2008; Mr Bob Litana, who died on the 12th February, 2009; and his royal highness, Senior Chief Chiwala who died on 11th April 2009,”Mr Banda said.
He also welcomed the new members of the NCC, among them Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane (Minister of Finance and National Planning), Ms Chileshe Kapwepwe (Deputy Minister of Finance) and Mr Vernon Mwaanga (Parliamentary Chief Whip).
“We welcome you all to the National Constitution Conference and we look forward to your active participation,” Mr Banda said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
You have wasted enough of our money, you characters. can you wind up please!
They’d better come up with a proper NATIONAL document, not one tha favors MMD otherwise they will be made to pay back the money
Within this new consitution i can assure you that …..there will be large loop holes with in it…such that I am of teh view that the Law Society will be left with a big headache to deal with…
Also i dont think this NCC has included all aspects of society..i dont recall any organisation asking teh youths to voice their opinions on teh constitution also….not many people are familiar with it…how can people advocate change for somethings they are not aware of???????….these are ment to be laws made by the people for the people…..right?????