Oasis Forum demands Referendum Commission

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The Oasis Forum says the appointment of the Committee of Experts based on considerations other than expertise in constitution making has invariably adversely affected the credibility of the process and may lead to a situation where very important sections of society feel detached from the process.

The forum has since called upon both the Government and the Committee of Experts to exercise their best endeavours in ensuring that the process receives the acceptance of a wide section of society.

The Oasis Forum has also expressed concerns over the fact that the Government has not clearly indicated the Legal Framework pursuant to which the Committee of Experts was appointed.

It has since reiterated its long held position that the submission of a report to the Republican President in the form of a recommendation in the Constitution making process is inimical to the principle of a people driven Constitution.

The Oasis Forum says it has every confidence that a number of the people appointed to the Committee of Experts are capable of delivering a draft Constitution that reflects the long held aspirations of the Zambian people.

It has therefore urged the Committee of Experts to come up with a clear Road Map on the Constitution making process and to clearly and effectively communicate the road map to the people.

The Oasis forum says it hopes that the Committee of Experts will not depart from the Mungomba Constitution review Commission road map which envisages the holding of a Referendum before the draft Constitution is presented to parliament for enactment without further debate.

The Oasis Forum further urged the Republican President to appoint a Referendum Commission as a matter of urgency in line with the Referendum Act.

It has also urged the Committee of Experts to make its Budget Public and for the Government to publicise the budget for the entire Constitution making process.

This is contained in a statement released to QFM jointly signed by Zambia Episcopal Conference Secretary General Father Cleophas Lungu, Council of Churches in Zambia General Secretary Rev Suzanne Matale, NGOCC Board Chairperson Beatrice Grillo and Law Association of Zambia vice president James Banda.

QFM

9 COMMENTS

  1. Where will money for the referendum come from? No money for this constitution making process was budgeted for. 

  2. Sata is full of circus. where is the constitution to guide him, these things will follow him to the grave and he should not forget that his children and wife will suffer the same fate that the bandas are going thru even wen he is called by the lord which i know is jus around the corner

  3. #3 man of the people, its you who is about to die. believe me. people like you, with so much hatred, should not roam the grounds of earth but should be confined to the shades of hell. foolish idiot.

  4. Wise words. Oasis Forum has always saved the interests of the country. They are more trustworthy than political parties. It’s refreshing to know the Forum still exists.

  5. Sata has always expressed his desire to make the constitution making process to be the people driven process. Secondly he has stated that the committee will decide what they want to include in the decision making process and the govt will be supporting this.

  6. For Now this is the best you can have.The Country does not have the means and the resources.The world is not coming to an end.

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