The national constitution convention has today kicked off in Lusaka with hundreds of people from various sectors of society gathering to make final contributions to the first draft constitution before the final one is formulated and handed over to President Michael Sata.
This national convention follows the successful holding of 82 district consultative forums, 10 provincial conventions and the recently held sector groups’ convention which was a specialized distinguished gathering of professionals and subject experts who were grouped in sectors according to their area of specialization and expertise.
Acting President Edgar Lungu officially opened the national constitution convention in the history of the country on behalf of President Sata.
Mr. Sata reaffirmed that under the Patriotic Front government, Zambia will not borrow or import a constitution from any other country but will formulate its own people driven supreme law of the land.
He said in a speech read for him by Mr. Lungu that the national convention, which marks the conclusion of the formal consultative process on drafting the Zambian constitution, demonstrates that Zambians are capable of rising above personal interests and work together for the common good of the nation.
The President noted that world over, the constitution making process was an art in compromise and consensus building which calls on citizens to give prominence to national interest as opposed to serving narrow partisan interest.
He said the constitution making should have a long term perspective and should not be motivated by short term gains.
President Sata has since urged delegates to utilize the platform provided by the national convention to selflessly contribute to the development of a new constitutional order because they carry the aspirations of millions Zambians.
He stated that the unsuccessful attempts of the past should motivate all delegates to finally put before the Zambian people a constitution that entrenches constitutional democracy, upholds the rule of law and establishes a credible governance system where the rights and liberties of all people are fully respected and protected.
The President reaffirmed his government’s commitment and determination to motivate the people of Zambia to give themselves a new people-driven and people centered constitution.
President Sata repeatedly emphasized that the process should be undertaken with a great sense of patriotism and reminded delegates and the technical committee not to simply pander to foreign interests or seek to incorporate standards and principles which do not reflect the country’s unique socio-political environment.
He added that Zambia seeks a modern constitution that will reflect its democratic progress but noted that the modern constitution should not be done without due regard to who the people of Zambia are.
And Minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba, who is also the ruling Patriotic Front Secretary General said his party pledge to give Zambia a people driven constitution which he said his government has prioritised.
He said the PF government will do everything within its power to ensure that the Zambian people achieve their desired goal of a people driven constitution which will stand a test of time.
He echoed the President’s sentiments that Zambia will not borrow or import a constitution from other country but will work hard to formulate its own document that will shape the future of the country and its people.
Mr. Kabimba noted that Zambia has been peaceful since independence and has therefore called on all Zambians to remain peaceful and united as always.
And Technical Committee Chairperson Annel Silungwe praised President Sata for the political will he has shown in having the constitution making process completed.
Justice Silungwe has since commended all participants for the commitment shown in the ongoing constitution making exercise.
He disclosed that the resolutions of the national convention, comments that were made by the local and international experts on constitutional law and practice as well as resolutions adopted at the sector groups’ convention will be considered by the technical committee when preparing for the final draft constitution.
The national convention will receive and consider the comments and recommendations of the ten provincial conventions and further examine and deliberate on the clauses of the first draft constitution.
The convention will also prepare and submit a national convention report which will highlight the comments and recommendations to the technical committee for consideration in preparing the final draft constitution.
The proceedings of the national convention will be conducted in both thematic working groups and plenary sessions that will be assigned parts of the first draft constitution to consider before the convention closes on Wednesday next week.
ZANIS
So it is also called NCC. What has changed now?
#1 what has change is that this has been a bottoms up approach to constitution making and not filling the so called NCC with marketeers association
true # 2
I’ll salute Lungu and his proxy sata once this goes through properly. Viva Zambia
For how long will the delegates get taxpayers money (allowances)?
My only worry is that every time the President himself makes an appearance, he does not make sense or goes off on a tangent. This gives the impression that all these speeches are not from him and that they are sugar coated in order to make him look good.
Lungu make sure the constitution continues to bar Guy Scott to act as president. Guy Scott is not a Zambian.
Zikomo a ‘President’ steven solo Lungu…oh pepani a ‘ President’ edgar Lungu. President Edgar lungu sounds great but bamwine ba bela manje manje!
we want the constitution b4 90 days..alaa….
people driven constitution
This is a working acting Presido. Within 12 days he has managed to overturn the export ban on maize made by Bob Sichinga. He has stopped RB from travelling to Kenya, arrested the gay activist and above all Opened the National Constitution Convention.
#7 Nostradamus, you are petty and have no place in modern society. I am sure you are one of the people asking the govt to include dual citizenship (to mostly countries in Europe and north america) where Guy Scot’s parent hail, and yet your are saying Guy is not Zambian!!
You swine
i love zambia and zambians
gwilisani motto ya ba kaunda
one zambia one nation
PLEASE PLEASE remember to reduce the powers of the president. Otherwise the whole effort will be completely a waste of time. There is no point for spending all this money if the president can still do the same things that this numskull in state house is able to do now. The future president will come back and still continue doing all the b.l.o.o.d.y stupid things that presidents in zambia have done and which Sata has even worsened without shame.
LET’S GIVE CREDIT WHEN & WHERE ITS DUE. SO FAR PF HAS SCORED BIG ON THIS PROCESS. THIS IS A BIG PLUS.
#14 Ba Muluto, you sound bitter!
PRESIDENT LUNGU BE CAREFUL DOT BE LYK NEVERS MUMBA WHO OVER ACTED WEN MWANAWASA LEFT HIM ACTING PRESIDENT AND ONLY TO FAIRED WEN HE CAME BACK
LET THE CONSTITUTION BE A PEOPLE DRIVEN ONE, NOT THE THUGS AT INTERCITY BUS TERMINAL,THIS CONSTITUTION HAS BEEN LONG OVER DUE,PLIZ PUT INTO ACCOUNT THE REDUCTION OF PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND DECENTRALISATION OF THE LEADERSHIP,THE COUNTRY NEEDS TO DEVELOP FROM THE COUNTRY SIDE,UNLIKE THE CURRENT SYSTEM WHERE LUSAKA IS EVERY THING
I bet you if Sata was in Lusaka he would have stayed-in and sent his ceremonial veep to attend such an important occasion!!
In PF they count days differently from the rest. No wonder few are able to understand their strategic planning.
The day the constitution will become law, that will mark the 90 days period
What are you complaining about? isn’t the process people driven?
Shaaaa!!
iyi ni show off. Does he know why Brig. Gen Miyanda or Nevers Mumba were dropped as Vice-Presidents. It is the same show off when the boss is away. In fact the smart thing to do when acting president is not to hold any press conference or officiate at anything in the name of the president. we will come and reverse all your decisions. He will even close this convention as a waste of money. That money you are paying as allowances.
The President Cancelled DINNER at the Zambian embassy in Beijing were we where supposed to dine, wine and ask him some questions. But the reason for cancelling was not GIVEN to zambians in China
@ANYOKO you are our eyes and ears there in China, do some digging there!
I just wonder why this whole constitutional making process seems to just interest the elite or literates of our society…people in my compound zingalume are not talking anything about it…they dont even seem to care that it concerns every one…especially themselve..what seems to a bother for most of them is the anticipated poor crop harvest..they dont know what the year will be like with a poor harvest…i know this does not worry most of our politicians who easily find their way into shoprite and buy mealie meal at whTever price they will find it without wondering how many of our peoplecan afford…zambia…a tell of many sides
This is a wondeful achievement so far. My advice to all Zambians is that let us support the government of the day for the benefit of the country. Yes, opposition must make checks to bring in some balance in the development discourse. Disrespecting the president is not good. If we insult our own president some development partners will not take him serious and this can affect the country. He was voted by the majority, he will make mistakes like any other person but this is the time to allow him and his team to drive towards their vision. Come 2016 it will be a different ball game were the government will have to account for their time in power. If Zambians will not be happy with what will have been done then they will decide to change leadership.
why is nshima not in the constitution? since it is a stable food for the rest of of the people if there is any who doesn’t eat ubwali pa Zambia,even ba Sata’s stomach is swollen due to constipation
Its well and good to speak about how this is a people driven constitution and the like. But these are the same politicians who are the first ones to flout it. People are detained at the whims of Government. Freedom of expression and assembly is selectively applied. So what makes you think this ‘people driven constitution’ will be respected by the same preachers of ‘how people driven’ it is. PF has done very badly in this area. They shouldn’t be trusted to uphold any constitution.
#7 YOU ARE A DOG
its one thing to have a ‘people driven’ constitution, and another thing to abide by that constitution. Currently there is a bad constitution in Zed, but leaders of the country are failing to abide by it!! another example is RSA, they are said to have one of the best constitution in the world – but their leaders sometimes still go astray. I think what is key is to have an empowered, wide awake and active citizenry to guard against the power abuse by the executive.
CCN, Nostradamus is not only a swine but a swine flu as well!
give credit were it is due!! p.f gvt at work.
Nyamasoya and Nubiana Katuluka, CONGRATULATIONS to you both. Its so so nice to read one;s mother language. Namvela bwino, tipitilize.
AS REGARDS THE CONSTITUTION, I PRAY THAT THE GENUINE SEPARATION OF POWERS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED OR ELSE WE GO FOR THE BRITISH OR INDIAN MODEL OF A HEAD OF STATE AND A HEAD OF GOVERNMENT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SPEND LOTS OF MONEY ON DRAFTING DOCUMENTS WHEN WE CAN JUST USE SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY THERE AND HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL, CREATED WEALTH AND SOCIAL ORDER. ZAMBIA IS NOT AN ISLAND BUT PART OF THE WIDER WORLD. JUST LOOK HOW THE SIMPLE AMMENDMENT OF ARTICLE 4 HAS BROUGHT SO MUCH CHANGE TO ZAMBIA ECONOMICALLY. UNFOTUNATELY, WE DID NOT CHANGE THE ONE PARTY MENTALITY OF GOVERNANCE ie separation of powers. As a result we are still back to square 1. Please, lets
Please lets move forward and develop mother Zambia for the future generations not just for ourselves today and tomorrow.
“Why has the constitution taken this long?” someone asked! Well its because the people working on it are paid per hour or per sitting. If you want something to be of good quality delivered on time, ask for volunteers to do it. Did you know why for example projects done by churches or religious institutions take faster to complete? Because the professionals working on them are not paid. But because of their beliefs they cannot do a shoddy job.
Just make sure the constitution is not based on any religion. Religion has no place in public life. That rubbish should be kept to individuals.
This guy should be the next president napela…..thank you.
#24… Thats a very good point… Edgar Lungu looks good but cant be trusted for presidence!!!!!!!!!!!!
How on earth can you be proud to be Zambian when we allow our politicians to be so openly prejudice against our Gay brothers and sisters? When will we open our eyes to see that only God can judge and that if people are calling this person a sin and that one a sin then they are only pretending to be God.
That is a bigger sin than anyone who is born with their sexuality.