Traditional leaders sitting at the Provincial Constitution Convention in Solwezi yesterday threatened to boycott the proceedings after they claimed that their views were not being adopted in the draft constitution.
Chieftainess Nyakuleng’a, together with Chief Mujimanjovu, both threatened to leave the house because they felt their presence was not relevant towards the convention.
This was after their proposal to completely remove clauses (3) (a) of Article 63 of the draft constitution was thrown out by delegates.
The article states that “a person shall not be compelled to perform, observe, participate in, or be subjected to, any cultural practice or rite: or (b) from, join contribute, maintain allegiance to any cultural, traditional or linguistic, association, organisation, institution or entity”.
The chiefs contended that this was not part of the culture and traditions of Zambia and would derail traditional values and culture of the people of Zambia.
Chieftainess Nyakuleng’a complained that they, as chiefs, were not being given a chance to table their views which she said was not fair.
And Chief Mujimanjovu said a constitution that is people-driven also has to incorporate cultural practices.
He emphasized the need to protect Zambia’s culture and not to bring foreign elements as traditional leaders are custodians of culture.
The house, then, adjourned the matter to today for reconsideration and voting either to remove the two clauses or retain them.
This was after some delegates sympathized with the traditional leaders and resolved to reconsider the clauses in question.
Meanwhile, delegates to the convention resolved to do away with the death penalty and instead opted to include life imprisonment as a replacement to the death penalty.
They said life imprisonment was better because they felt that death was not punishment enough as the convict would have died and not learn any lesson from their deeds but being in prison would teach them a lesson.
They further resolved that the media should not be state-owned but public owned.
ZANIS
The two chiefs are right. Why do you want to water down our culture? Is it because the politicians find it hard to deal with chiefs, especially when it comes to the issue of land? Strike that clause completely out, our culture must be protected and preserved at all times. A nation without culture is just as good as dead.
…“a person shall not be compelled to perform, observe, participate in, or be subjected to, any cultural practice or rite: or (b) from, join contribute, maintain allegiance to any cultural, traditional or linguistic, association, organisation, institution or entity”. I wonder who is incharge of translating the draft constitution.
Is this clause not making a reference to “choice”?
Yes, absolutely do away with the death penalty…it really serves no purpose!
hahahahaha..that thing will not even work..
Human Rights.
i feel no law should give right to any person force any one to undergo cultuaral pracitce or rite if we do so how we going to deal with cruel Balagisi.
context. even witchcraft is culture.
That’s Solwezi , the town with two soon to be three world class copper mines!
No one should be compelled to do anything they don’t want to do. I cannot support the chiefs on this one.