The number of people accessing draft copies of the constitution placed at parliamentary constituency offices is low.
A snap check by ZNBC news in Lusaka revealed that members of the public are not coming forward to access and make submissions.
At Kabwata constituency office, the professional assistant Racheal Muvumbo has told ZNBC that the office received four hundred copies of the draft last week but bemoaned the low turnout.
A check at Lusaka Central constituency office revealed that only one person had passed through the office as at 11 hours on Tuesday.
Professional assistant at the office Jacqueline Lukumba has attributed the low turn out to lack of adequate sensitization.
And a member of the public that was found collecting draft copies at the office called for extensive sensitization to encourage other members of the public to collect the document.
Violet Kafula says it is important that people know where to collect draft copies so that every member of the public is given an opportunity to make submissions to the constitution making process.
And a check at Chawama constituency office situated on Findeco house found the office locked.
Fifteen days have elapsed since the draft constitution was launched on April 30.
Members of the public have been given forty days to read and make submissions on the draft document.
On Monday the technical committee drafting the constitution disclosed that officers have been dispatched to all districts to distribute draft copies to public institutions.
ZNBC
It just shows how bad our reading culture levels have become. Very few Zambians want to spend time to read but drink, gossip, lead lazy cheap life awe sure my country and yet when the constitution is past they will complain.
Lol, but if you tell them that, my God the reaction can be pathetic!!
well i got mine online
I blame this on the Kaunda resigme. In grade school I thought the constitution was some mandate for office bearers only; only to grow up and to discover that it is for all citizens. Did not even know that I too was a citizen then. Plus I do not think the government has advertised that free copies of the constitution are on hand for free pickup. I got mine of the internet.
me too..online is super….we are even editing it….lol
It is either people don’t have transport money or it was not taken to schools so that Children could collect copies on behalf of their parents and other family members.Or as is always the “CURSE”maybe officer need kuchekelewako to relase one paper
The government can also distribute the copies to targetted people. These constituency offices sometimes so far like the Chilanga office and people who read are busy. Government should make more effort in distributing these copies to offices, school, etc targeting people who can read. Anyway, the softcopy is just as well good, must it neccessary be a hardcopy these days.
put up a tribunal,kekekekekek
Shame. If its free but you have to go and pick it up and READ it, Zambians don’t want it. But if it’s cheap (almost free) and you just have to turn a corner to buy it TUJILIJILIS…you fools rush to it like it’s gold. Government should also do something about this. Can they not surely distribute this document to highly frequently populated areas. i.e. grocery stores, taverns, hospitals, schools? I mean surely, people must be made aware of the importance of the constitution. Yes, UNIP and KK share the blame here. Back in the 70’s and 80’s some of us didn’t know what a constitution was if it ever existed. But ignorance mwandi…yaba..kuti wa pena fye!
Make available online people may not have time to walk into your offices during office hours
Might I suggest the press relentlessly mention the website where the constitution may be downloaded? I notice it was not mentioned in this article. People are busy. They may not read the news during regular office hours. If they can download it for free and read it before bedtime, do it! But not having the http: address might delay even these voters. Make it convenient so no one can complain later. They will complain, but if that’s beside the point. Include download instructions in every article on the constitution. Thank you.