Friday, March 29, 2024

Constitution conferences opens in Muchinga. Luapula, Northern and Western Provinces

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NORTHERN Provincial Minister Col. Gerry Chanda second (right) shaking hands with National Technical Committee team leader to Northern Provincial Constitution Conference Dr. Rodger Chonwe outside the conference hall at Nellas Lodge in Kasama after the official opening
NORTHERN Provincial Minister Col. Gerry Chanda second (right) shaking hands with National Technical Committee team leader to Northern Provincial Constitution Conference Dr. Rodger Chonwe outside the conference hall at Nellas Lodge in Kasama after the official opening

The second round of the provincial convention on drafting the constitution has opened in Muchinga Province and Western Province with a call on delegates to avoid taking rigid positions if the country is to come up with a good constitution that will stand the test of time.

In Muchinga, Muchinga Province Minister Charles Banda said the Patriotic Front (PF) government decided to employ the bottom up approach in the constitution making process in order to incorporate the aspirations of Zambians.

Mr. Banda was speaking when he officially opened the Muchinga Province constitution making convention in Mpika today.

He implored delegates to apply themselves fully and put aside personal and partisan interests if the process is to retain legitimacy.

Mr. Banda further urged delegates to put forward the views of the ordinary people which they submitted in the first draft constitution.

Earlier, Muchinga Province Technical Committee Leader Reuben Lifuka said the committee has scored a number of milestones since it was appointed by President Michael Sata in 2011.

[pullquote]It is of absolute necessity that you, therefore, put aside your personal interests and work for the common good of our people as you deliberate. [/pullquote]

Mr. Lifuka has however acknowledged that a lot of work still needs to done before a final draft is produced.

He said the technical committee has so far adhered to the terms of reference as provided by government in line with the submissions of Zambians in the previous constitution review commissions and similar processes.

The second rounds of provincial conventions are taking place simultaneously in Muchinga, Western, Northern and Luapula Provinces respectively.

This follows the successful holding of similar exercises in Central, North-Western and Copperbelt provinces late last year.

   NORTHERN Provincial Constitution Conference Nation Technical Constitution Committee team leaders Dr. Rodger Chongwe (right) delivering his official opening remarks to Northern Provincial Constitution delegates at Nellas Lodge in Kasama today with Northern Provincial Minister Col. Gerry Chanda (left)
NORTHERN Provincial Constitution Conference Nation Technical Constitution Committee team leaders Dr. Rodger Chongwe (right) delivering his official opening remarks to Northern Provincial Constitution delegates at Nellas Lodge in Kasama today with Northern Provincial Minister Col. Gerry Chanda (left)

And in Mongu scores of people from a cross section of society today turned up for the official opening of the Western Province Constitution Convention, with area Permanent Secretary Bert Mushala urging delegates to put personal interests aside in their deliberations.

Speaking at Mongu College of Education yesterday, Mr Mushala advised the participants to instead put the people’s common good before theirs as they deliberated.

Mr Mushala said for the Constitution-making process to maintain its legitimacy and to produce a document which would stand the test of time, there was need to ensure that the province played its part in recommending changes to the First Draft Constitution which they deemed necessary.

“It is of absolute necessity that you, therefore, put aside your personal interests and work for the common good of our people as you deliberate. Your major responsibility as delegates is to represent even the views of members of our communities who could not be accorded an opportunity to attend this convention,” he said.

Mr Mushala added that it was imperative that the delegates approached the convention with the seriousness and open mindedness it deserved by fully applying themselves and ensuring that District resolutions as well as vernacular comments received were carefully considered.

[pullquote]“With all what has been done so far, the content of the Final Draft Constitution is entirely in the hands of all of us Zambians. It is, therefore, important that this convention and similar consultations clearly indicate the people’s aspirations.[/pullquote]

He observed that it was the first time in the history of the country’s Constitution-making process that Government took a bottom-up approach in the Constitution-making process.

Speaking earlier, Technical Committee on Drafting the Zambian Constitution chairperson Annel Silungwe said the overwhelming turnout was a demonstration that all stakeholders considered the Constitution-making process important and one deserving everyone’s support.

“It is gratifying to observe the overwhelming interest shown by most Zambians in the Constitution-making process. This is as it should be, after all Constitution-making is a process which should bring all key stakeholders together in order to chart the future of the nation.

“The turn out at this convention is a clear testimony that all stakeholders consider the Constitution-making process important and one that deserves the support of all well-meaning people,” he said.

Justice Silungwe reiterated that the Technical Committee had recorded several milestones since it started its work on December 1, 2013, but that a lot more still remained to be done before the final Draft Constitution was produced.

“With all what has been done so far, the content of the Final Draft Constitution is entirely in the hands of all of us Zambians. It is, therefore, important that this convention and similar consultations clearly indicate the people’s aspirations.

“It is important for all delegates to realize that the task you are playing in this convention is historical. You are here to represent the millions of Zambians and we are confident as a Technical Committee that you will take this honour seriously.

Justice Silungwe repeated his assurance that the Technical Committee would strictly adhere to the people’s aspirations and wishes of the citizenry in coming up with the Final Draft Constitution.

“Our collective hope is that this time around, Zambians will be given the Constitution that truly will stand the test of time,” Justice Silungwe said.

In Luapula, Luapula Province Minister Benson Kapaya has urged delegates to the Luapula province convention on enacting the Zambian constitution to put aside their personal interests when deliberating in the convention.

ZANIS reports that Brigadier General Kapaya said detaching personal interests from deliberations will allow delegates to represent the Zambian people in the constitution making process diligently.

He said this in Mansa today when he officially opened the Luapula province convention on enacting the Zambian constitution today.

He said delegates should participate fully in deliberations because the quality of the constitution will depend on how they discuss the input of the people of Zambia.

[pullquote]“It is important for all delegates to realize that the task you are playing in this convention is historical. You are here to represent the millions of Zambians and we are confident as a Technical Committee that you will take this honour seriously.[/pullquote]

Brig. Gen. Kapaya has also disclosed that the convention will also consider the vernacular comments from the public in all parts of the province.

He said the comments have since been translated into English and analysed by the provincial facilitation team.

Speaking earlier, Vice Chairperson of the Technical Committee on Drafting the Zambian Constitution Julius Sakala said the committee was overwhelmed by the response from the people towards the constitution making process.

Dr. Sakala said the committee will strictly adhere to wishes and aspirations of Zambian people in coming up with the final draft constitution.

He was hopeful that Zambians will this time around be have the constitution that will truly stand the test of time.

And Dr. Sakala said it was important for all delegates to realise that the role they were playing in the convention was historical.

He said the technical committee was confident that the delegates will take the convention seriously and apply themselves fully to the task at hand.

 

 

ZANIS

18 COMMENTS

  1. Citizens are not interested, the constitution will not develop livelihood of common people.
    Good for you who are on allowances.

  2. what draft constitution i thought PF promised to complete it in 90 days?
    what calender is PF using cause i think its not a normal one?
    Anyway its pure wastage of Tax payers money, this whole process has turned into a conduit for stealing money.
    There was no need to redo the whole constitution in the first place we all know the bone of contention in the current constitution.
    1.The president simply has too much power period and you don’t expect a man like Sata to reduce his own Power.
    2. 50 +1 not the current situation where we have a minority president and these no excuse for resources because resources are there for defecting MP’s.
    3. Defecting/Resigning MP’s should automatically be disqualified from contesting for the same position.
    4.abolishing the colonial public order…

    • I bet you never made any submissions to the constitution review committee. To you only the four issues you have outlined are of importance. Do you have evidence that money has been stolen? And do you expect this people to undertake such an important task for free? Think before you post.

  3. Mushota is right by always trying to uncover shortcomings on the part of all Zambians who are in the forefront of not improving the infrastructure in Zambia on a large scale. The picture of a lodge where the above conference was held is very disappointing and not good for a top copper producing nation.
    Zambia has mineral deposits worth about a trillion dollars and that is a lot of money in any language. It is the only country which is among the wealthiest mineral rich countries with a poor infrastructure even though the DRC Congo is at the bottom of the inventory.
    South Africa is has mineral deposits worth about 3.5 trillions the wealthiest in terms of its various mineral deposits and followed by Russia with mineral deposits worth about 1.5 trillion dollars.
    Zambians apply yourselves

    • Oh, my dear lovely woman it nice to read from you and I hope your lips are as soft as they appear on my apple laptop.
      I genuinely miss you and I do not think you understand how crazy it is to love a lady who is open to correct or wrong construction. Nonetheless, I adore you dear.
      Enjoy the new year and derive alot of tangible benefits and pleasure as well. Have fun and enjoy your ever demanding studies.
      Happy days are here and wish you success all the way my dear.

    • Mushota
      Enjoy everthing in this new year because I know that you are a strong lady. You have a come long way to give in to any criticisms be it on a weak level or a formidable level. Keep it up girl and, I still admire you alot. Always loving you to the bitterest end.

    • Mushota
      Oops, lady Mushota I meant to say that “you have come a long way to give in…” not the construction which appears above sorry for such minor errors lol.

  4. This is just a “money in y’r pockect” exercise: it could have been done in the 90 day duration pf govt set itself. We all know that after all the ‘conferencing’ is over, the govt will produce their own copy, and the controversy will continue. Just running in circles: that has been Zedian approach to this matter.

    We all cynical towards this thing now, ain’t we?

  5. How many Indunas of the BRE attending the constitution meeting in Mongu and those in attendace inform us their resolutions.

  6. i just hope there is no provision for christian nation fallacy which is used by pastors to intimidate other people with hell fire while enriching themselves with expensive cars, suits, women etc. If anyone worships God in truth no need to ve political declaretions to worship. Without christian nation tug is the time to see who a real christian is. To zambian pastors, ‘christian nation’tug means favours from government.

  7. Consultations again? What happened to “a people driven constitution in 90 days kanshi?” I now believe those who have maintained that the whole constitution making process under PF is a money making exercise and has nothing to do with the constitution.

  8. “Brig. Gen. Kapaya has also disclosed that the convention will also consider the vernacular comments from the public in all parts of the province. He said the comments have since been translated into English and analysed by the provincial facilitation team.”

    One for the government to ponder on as on another thread they consider the usefulness of an inherited colonial language 🙂

  9. I thought the technical committee would be working with the the past constitutional reviews of Mvunga, Mwanakatwe and Mung’omba reports. How does what is going on differ with the previous reviews then? For how long are the Zambians going to be cheated out of the so much needed developmental funds on re-invented wills such as this? I do not know of any country in this world that constantly works on the constitution as is the case with Zambia. This seems to me like a scheme to milk the people of the much needed funds for other social programmes. Can we honestly argue that the billions being spent on this process meet the priority criteria. The NCC just defrauded the zambian people and I hope one day all NCC members will be asked to repay all monies received under false pretense…

  10. whatever happened to the 90 days promise! Its like General Miyanda once said,we have a people driven constitution in all these past review commissions, all we had to do is come up with one document instead of wasting hard earned tax payers money like we did with NCC. The problem,is they don’t want to reduce their powers,they sing a song when in opposition but once voted for they change the tune. With the way president Sata was critical of presidential powers,who would think he would still keep up with them?
    Give us development as you promised or atleast a boat because i can’t go outside,kwatu kwa its flooded.

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