Chief government spokesperson Mwansa Kapeya has said the PF Government finds today’s meeting at Lusaka’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross today to pressurize Government over the constitution making process as totally unnecessary.He described the meeting as a deliberate plot by opposition parties and Civil Society organisations to discredit government.
Mr Kapeya said since coming into office two years ago, the Patriotic Front Government has demonstrated its utmost commitment to transparency and the rule of law where nothing is swept under the carpet.He described President Sata as free, frank and objective approach to national issues.
Below is a Full statement
Republic of Zambia
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Service
STATEMENT BY HON. MWANSA KAPEYA, MP, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON ALLEGATIONS BY SOME OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE CIVIL SOCIETY CONSTITUTION COALITION THAT GOVERNMENT WANTS TO DOCTOR THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE
It is deeply disturbing to note that there is a deliberate plot by some opposition parties and civil society organisations to discredit Government over the ongoing constitution making process.
I must state here and now that Government remains committed to its promise and to the wishes of Zambians to ensure that a new constitution encompassing the views of Zambians is born.
It is the responsibility of this Government to ensure this is done and no amount of suspicion will detract it from achieving this noble objective.
The constitution making process is an important national undertaking which should be devoid of partisan inclinations, unwarranted ultimatums and threats.
The process is on track and on schedule, contrary to some stakeholders who have raised doubts over Government’s commitment to delivering a people driven constitution.
As a matter of fact, Government has not made any decisive and substantive pronouncement on the scope and direction the constitution making process will have to take following the completion of the draft constitution by the Technical Committee engaged to draft the document.
It is therefore grossly unfair and unfortunate for some sections of society to accuse the Government of a hidden agenda over the constitution making process.
This is a disciplined and responsible Government which will not abdicate its responsibility to deliver a constitution that satisfies the will and wishes of the Zambian people.
Since coming into office two years ago, the Patriotic Front Government has demonstrated its utmost commitment to transparency and the rule of law where nothing is swept under the carpet.
His Excellency President Michael Sata’s free, frank and objective approach to national issues is well documented.
This is why Government finds as totally unnecessary, the meeting called by a consortium of civil society organisations and some opposition political parties at Lusaka’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross today to pressurize Government over the constitution making process.
While it is their democratic right to meet and discuss any issue of national interest, today’s meeting at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross is unnecessary and unhelpful as there is no impasse whatsoever, over the ongoing constitution making process, this far.
The opposition MMD, in particular, is advised to desist from hypocrisy over the ongoing constitution making process.
This is a party which for the entire 20 years it was in power, failed to deliver a single paragraph of a durable and people driven constitution – a cause it now wants to pretend to champion.
It is laughable that MMD Vice President for Politics Hon. Michael Kaingu, at a press briefing yesterday, could have the courage to raise unwarranted demands against the Government over the ongoing constitution making process which his party lamentably failed to deliver when it was in power.
This level of pretence by the former ruling party is immoral and unacceptable.
I challenge the MMD to account for its failure to give Zambians a constitution of their wish and choice during the two decades the party was in power.
Suffice, however, to note that the MMD’s record on constitution making when it was in power is a disaster.
Zambians have not forgotten that in mid 1990s the MMD instituted a constitution review process, at colossal cost to the tax payer, solely aimed at barring the former President Dr Kanneth Kaunda from contesting the Republican presidency.
Unlike the MMD, the Patriotic Front Government has no intention to come up with a constitution targeted at individuals, but rather a constitution that targets to uplift the collective wellbeing and prosperity of the Zambian people.
Barely two years in office, Government is almost through with the process of drafting the new Republican Constitution, as promised.
The achievement is unprecedented and unparalled in Zambia’s political history.
Government re-iterates its resolve to working with all stakeholders in writing a Republican Constitution that will not only stand the test of time, but also embody people’s aspirations for a better and prosperous Zambia now and generations to come.
Hon. Mwansa Kapeya, MP
CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES
4th January, 2014
Sin can be forgiven but stupid is forever.
Out of touch with the masses…the constitution belongs to the people…PERIOD!
I can even comment much on a f00l’s reasons because it might make me one.
I WISH SOMEONE CAN UPLOAD THE DOCUMENT ONLINE. THERE IS NOT EVEN A MEMORY STICK WITH A SOFT COPY? WE NEED ANOTHER JULIAN ASANGE STYLE.
it a national mourning day. anyway, he is supposed to have attended the meeting to hear the first hand information.
Damn ,Mwansa Kapeya you are Liars, untrustworthy and shameless! Where is the freeing of Radio and TV airwaves? Where is lower taxes, more jobs?
Where is the constitution in 90days now over 2years. Why should Zambians now trust you ???
You have even lied on your own TERMS OF REFERENCE TO THE TECHNICAL TEAM. Have you released the constitution simultaneously to govt & public??
You PF ,truly shameless pathological LIARS, DECEPTION FILLED!.
We are still awaiting your response to General Miyanda’s dare on you what constitutional article sata relied on regarding CJ- PF LIARS! Where is the Freedom of information bill ??
These and many more PF Lies, why should zambians trust you?? High meali meal price, high fuel prices, high airtimes prices ??
Just F-K- ing deliver the constitution…
Never compare PF to MMD. MMD lost power for failure to deliver the constitution. Zambians gave PF the governing mandate to deliver-a People driven Constitution! Unless you are concede defeat! You entered a social contract with the Zambia people in your Manifesto under page 42. That; “the PF government shall: review all previous Constitutional Review Commissions submissions thru a Committee of Experts for submission to a referendum and enactment only, by the National Assembly. (22 LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS. PF Manifesto 2011 – 2016. Governance and the Administration of the State page 42),”Therefore, No amount of lies or propaganda will work this time. PF and Sata, just deliver the constitution in accordance with the social contract entered -your PF manifesto, nothing less!
Ifyabukaya – It’s not funny. Your Jokes belong to the 80’s than now.We’re not asking you, but rather telling you.
In Ifyabukaya that may go, in real life such doesn’t. Learn to be serious for once. Tell Zondwa we will get the Constitution now where he likes it or not.
Kapeya are you not ashamed of your self. Lying through and through. Zambian people have become wiser and they know all your schemes right now and will in no way buy your silly rhetoric.
INDECO now what next? If we are not careful Sata will wake up one day and ban all political parties and declare Zambia a one party state. All these moves are tell tale signs that he trying slowly to introduce one party state. Unfortunately Zambian people will not allow that to happen. If he dares I swear that will be start of an un stoppable civil war in Zambia. Remember there is a first time for every thing.
A civil does not need much to start.
He doesnt know that the same pipo who denied us a pipo driven constitution under MMD are the same ones denying us now under PF because he was too busy making funnies on radio.
Mr Kapeya is an adult and will definitely agree with the sayings : “experience is the best teacher and action speaks louder than words ” As Zambians we have head those promises and we are seeing your actions as government. What is unfortunate is that you have somersaulted on the constitutions . Your fellow ministers Mr Kapeya have made serious comments on the draft constitution even before it was completed . So citizens are just right to demand . Anyway it will be folly of us to think that you guys can deliver the constitution as demanded by Zambians . Where is the road map. That is action br Kapeya. Sorry for you .
useless govt
To uneducated leaders any type of response to issues of national concern is seen as dealing with the issue. Small wonder the saying of little education is dangerous because intellectual disposition is alien.
Pressure is good; it keeps people on there toes. oh its pressure that makes a car tyre useful; so without pressure this government will be useless! Pressure will deliver a people driven constitution!
Ok. at least you are now responding to pressure.
When the President says Zambia does not need a new constitution..
When Wyhter Kabimba says he is opposed to 50+1…
When Gvt does not budget for a referendum…
When the President contravenes the Term of Reference requiring the draft constitution to be handed over simultaneously to him and the public ……
You Kapeya say there is no need to pressurise Gvt over the constitution ? What have you been smoking ?
And dont use the MMD’s failure to give Zambians a people driven constitution as an excuse for your gimmicks . After all, it was Sata who sabotaged the NCC remember how he expelled those PF MPs. And remember also that Sata promised Zambians a people driven constitution in 90 days . So stop playing games .
@Rotten Teeth . What a sober analysis. God bless you. What would happen if most Zambians had the guts and depth of @Rotten Teeth ; we would be an upcoming United States of America or Singapore. Thank you.
Mr Fyabukaya it was Mr Sata’s mmd time who wanted the 3rd term. Please pf promised the Zed people a constitution within 90days why shifting goal posts, idiocy.
@NAALI YA Munna. It was Sata who was championing the 3rd term bid. I remember him being asked what people should do with the t-shirts if the scheme did not succeed. And his words ring loud till today…’they can use them as vests’!
As Fred Membe in the Mwanawasa era used to write about Sata: he is an untrusted liar. And as ba KK used to say, Sata lies in the morning, noon and night. I thought they were unfair on Sata. Now Membe and Sata are unfair on Zambians for eulogising this serial incorrigible lair at plot one!
This Sata cheated me out of my vote by promising me a consititution in 90 days if i voted for him. Ba ECZ, how do I retrieve my vote??
The document belongs to the citizens of Zambia, so what’s unreasonable about asking for something that belongs to you? Unless you want to change it to a PF manifesto then you can hold it back as long a you like.
Was out of touch how can I get the zambianwatchdog please napapata.
To begin with, this statement from the so-called chief government spokesman is far too long, and utterly lacking in substance! Mr minister, it is not how long your statement is but the content of your statement that counts in the end. But coming to the issue at hand, what is wrong with people getting together to discuss a matter of such national concern? Why does government and the PF assume only they have the wisdom to make decisions on such matters? It boggles the mind! Arrogance will prove costly to PF in the end.
MMD distributed the copies simultaneously to Gvt and Civil Society which PF has shamelessly failed to do.
Coming to a cinemas near you.GONE IN 60MONTHS
Kapeya has nothing to give. the truth is that Zambians were fooled, tricked into believing that pf will do what they promised in campaigning.. You zambaian failed to understand those tricks especial when pf said that the country will be developed within 3months?? and that those in pf are products of mmd, how they could turn the clock in 90 days???
If at all this chap is a father and husband, then he must be a bad leader of the family.
Even in families, we’ve constitutions, laws and guidelines that parents use to govern children from crossing the line, or guiding them from becoming; waste of spaces in their lives, rule-less, lawbreakers, jokes etc.
So far, everything that has come out from Kapeya’s mouth has been trash after trash.
He has no clue and does even attempt to research or make an effort.
He is Calamity at its highest peak !!!
The PF campaigned on the promise of doing things better within 90days than MMD.So Kapeya should just shut up and give the Zambians the Consistitution they deserve.
We need a constitution now as parties agreed together that once the Technical Committee finishes its work the draft constitution shall be made public at the same time the President is getting his copy. Now today,s prayer meeting has come about because the citizens of Zambia have seen deceit in the way the Government wants to depart from the agreed path. So we need our tax payers money to be spent prudently not through deceit.
Is this chap confirming that Sata and his regime need more time to screw up the Document from the 10 copies he was given?
The Technical Team was given the time-frame to prepare this document. Time has arrived for them to show the people of Zambia, so that it be examined.
There is no need for Sata to pause the button, and stop the due process. If anything its Sata who is putting pressure on the Technical Team and the people of Zambia.
So what is this Water-falls talking about?
In which party and government did Michael Sata serve in the years under review as per Mwansa Kapenya’ s statement ? If MMD, then Mwansa Kapenya should accept that Michael Sata is UNIP, MMD and PF and indeed he himself is still part and parcel and indeed the source of all problems created by failed governments in Zambia. So those defensive remarks from him Kapenya whatever his name are unjustiable and very untrue.
One Zambia One Nation!
Fyabukaya Please THIS COUNTRY IS NOT BEMBALAND so stop playing Bemba jokes.
THE CONSTITUTION BELONGS TO US THE MASSES NOT TO YOU OR YOUR PRESIDENT PERIOD. It is ours!
Now BA KAPEYA can speak English!
More pressure required to prevent manipulation of the Draft Constitution. Zambians want:-
(a) 50 + 1 No compromise on this one
(b) No illiterates at plot 1. Absolutely no compromise on this one too.
(C). Clean Bill of Health for Plot 1 aspirants.
(d). No budget allocation for First Ladies or Gentlemen.
(e). Presidential TV debates for aspirants to let people compare sanity of candidates under questioning.
(f) Party Secretary General to hold no other office (Not in the Judicially, for Heaven’s Sake)
(g)Adoption of Constitution by Referendum. Not the manipulated Parliament.
(h) The final Draft Constitution to be distributed as per Terms of Reference.
Men and women of good will,
Please, I need your guidance. Why pressure government and not the so-called Constitution Making Technical Committee? Has it already handed in the draft to the president?
Mpundu, my friend, have you been following this issue? The terms of reference said ‘simultaneous presentation’ then Wynter Kabimba directed them to only print ten copies, in short, ‘no simultaneous presentation’ which was an abrogation of the terms of reference. The technical committee then refused to heed Wynter’s instruction prompting him to utter the most childish statement I have ever heard “It is not me you are refusing, it is Mr. Sata.” So in your opinion, who should be pressured?
ba kapeya nga tamukwete ifyakulanda kwikalafye because no one is pressuring anybody about the constitution but are just reminding mr sata to honour what he campaigned for 2 years ago instead. You think zambian people are that dull to forget the 90 days thing? Ubufi bubi and mr kapeya next time you don’t get votes mwikapapa iyo pantu mulemona kwati nga mwaba ba minister today efyo cikaba pee. muleipusha abanenu mu mmd what it means to be stubborn. The next govt will nullify your seat mukomfwe efyo cumfwika…Basop!!!
Ba Mwansa Kapeya tabakwata amono kwena! Your foolish president was promising people a new constitution and he has failed to deliver even after giving him so much time, the people of Zambia have the right to pressure govt on the issue of the constitution because it is not being handled openly and you are being dishonest. Mwansa Kapeya now you are being used just like toilet paper, anything they ask you to yap you just yap without any thought. The people of Zambia tried the MMD govt, but it failed them, they try PF same issues, I bet it is time for another solutions!
Hon Kapeya is right.PF is committed to giving Zambians a new constitution unlike MMD which took more than a decade.Honorable,us the people of NWP want PF to fire this so called PS Seyuba who has no leadership qualities.He has been fanning confusions ever since he was brought.He is a confuser of men and no wonder there is no development in the Province.Please advise the President to fire this headless chicken before people decide to take the law in their hands.
@JACOB. You headless chicken mambala. Son of a beach; instead of fighting for ra,p.ed constitution process you are discussing a person in name of Seyuba. get a life and get a job instead of your p.h.down syndrome. tawakwata nensoni….seyuba stays as ps whilst you knash your rotten teeth ma.tu.vi mumeno.
Jacob, with due respect you are out of touch with reality. And you seem very disorganised – how do you discuss outside topic? I should see your school results!
Honorable, behave honorably by not insulting the wisdom of the Zambians. Zambians are wiser than you think.
Kindly don’t insult people from NWP you are just A Bemba foolish person. Leave Seyuba alone, you thought he will be under your Bamba for stupid contracts you wanted from him. now that he denied you business and he doesn’t entertain stupid PF cadres who want him out of the Province.
You stoped doing business every day walking around government offices chasing wind just work hard brothers and sisters and fight for the future of your children not these stupid comments you are making.
We should not forget that the constitution document during the MMD governance did not go through in paliament primarily because PF members of parliament either abstained or voted against it.
In the long run, the most worrying about this whole constitution making process is that many intelligent people are beginning to realise that the Zambian constitution may be irrelevant to their daily lives because it appears like it is just a document for politicking. If this view is entrenched, it will be very difficult for future generations to be persuaded to subscribe to the principle of being government by a constitutional government. Worse still only unprincipled people will be entering politics.
KAH BWA!CHEAP RETHORICS!SHAMELESS DISTORTED ILLOGICAL THINKING!THIS IS NOT KAULAULA OR IFYABUKAYA.
THIS IS ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF MOTHER ZAMBIA AND “WE THE PEOPLE.ONE TERM ADMINISTRATION! MWANA AMA FEE!
Out of two decades kapeya is referring to , Sata was part of first crucial decade in which the constitution was passed that barred Dr. Kaunda.
Second one failed because of 50%+1 disagreement and stupidity of Rupiah which he openly regretted after losing elections to Sata. When I had asked him before elections, why do you not allow 50%+1 clause in the constitution and it go through, his short but jovial reply was, he did not want to distract and waste resources on re-run as with politicians like Sata create so much anxiety and ill-will that investors get scared, economic activities slow down, and of course he was confident of winning. If he knew that he was not winning in first round , he would had definitely accepted 50%+1 and history would have been different. It is anybody’s guess who…
If he knew that he was not winning in first round , he would had definitely accepted 50%+1 and history would have been different. It is anybody’s guess who the southern and north western province would have voted for in the re-run.
Kapeya just shut up, we know more about Sata’s concubines and children outside marriage, how Willie Nsanda is extracting 20% from foreign road contractors and passing on the same to Sata. How much he carries and steals through his foreign trips. He has taken 48 trips from the time he became president and that does not include the trips his concubine Number One Kaseba has taken.
Sata has stolen 36 million dollars through the overseas trips alone.
Bwana, take matters serious……
Twabika Satana my plot 1 tulelapila now days are numbered he will soon be out of that office.Immediately he has to be arrested together with kabimba bakafwile muchifungo
Pantu tabomfwa.
People don’t want the truth. Basiyeni. The govenrment is also waiting for the draft constitution frm the technical commette. mwebantu patient pays.
Eugine, have you just woken from a deep sleep? You seem not to be up to date with current affairs. Don’t comment when you don’t know!
GOD BLESS ZAMBIA
this is real. dont be confused, remain still. it is just 2 years and nurses are demanding 40mils, waking up does not mean destructive. Most people who worked under chiluba, rb are very happy now including rb, salary wise, so long they are not selling fish. your government is doing great for Zambia beyond what had been known. Let PF finish please.
All these people are just yapping. To me what was held was not looking like a prayer meeting but another form of rally. I don’t think God took first priority in their hearts when they met at the Anglican Cathedral. I never saw any placard with the words GOD HELP US or anything in connection to GOD. The MMD was in power for 20 years. Why didn’t they deliver a people driven constitution. MMD should be the last party to talk about it.
Besides the constitution issue, I am pleased that ZNBC is able to cover the opposition on TV which never used to happen before. I never saw Sata being aired on ZNBC when he was in opposition during Mwanawasa and Rupiah Banda’s reigns. The MMD should feel ashamed. It was all insults against Sata on ZNBC. Well done PF. I will vote wisely this time around.
@BBC ; PF should Never compare itself to MMD. MMD lost power for failure to deliver the constitution. Zambians gave PF the governing mandate to deliver-a People driven Constitution! Unless PF is conceding defeat! PF entered a social contract with the Zambian people in your Manifesto under page 42-to deliver-a People driven Constitution!
@YAMI VISION 20130+, I am not PF but who says that PF has failed to deliver the constitution? Besides they have just been in power for 2 years. Further more they haven’t said that they won’t give us the constitution. Some of the participants just want to take advantage of the meeting to advance their political agenda. However I have seen that the PF is working harder than any political party i have seen. They may stumble here and there. They are not like God that they have to be righteous all the way. But overall, they are very hard working party. The more you treat them unfairly the more people likes them. Remember Mansa bye elections and Livingstone. People are seeing tangible touchable changes and that is what will push them for second term weather we like it or not.
Please Mr BBC know that the current president was in MMD for ten years. Actually he was number 3 in hierarachy of the MMD. He is part to this proplem.
There goes chief gorvernment stupidperson with his lies. Does this man have brains? Definitely he does not have shame.
Ba kapeya, you really have a difficult Job as Vuvuzela, saying things that you surely do not make sense and yourself do not believe in
someone must be lying somewhere.
Chiwamila galu kuluma mbuzi……it was wrong for MMD but ok for PF!!
Insults will never make your novice enter plot 1. The more you insult the current Govt, the more it will be difficult. Illede tefintu.
No my dear Albert we are content with your old man in diapers. An old man whom, I think, has a shrunk manhood that he throws tantrums like our good young untainted novice. You can keep your old man with his urine bag and his diapers.
Meant to say that he throws tantrums ‘unlike’ our young novice
It is totally unacceptable for hon. Mwansa Papeya to be accusing MMD to be behind the demand of the final draft to be available to all citizens No party is not going to push us to do that. Yes, MMD gov. failed to give us a new constitution, but we will not sit down and wait for another gov to do that. And we will never again allow any gov to take advantage of us. It is the Faulty of PF gov not to give us the new constitution on time. Secondly, we will never allow the government of the day punish any individual by destroying businesses because of different view or belonging to a different political party. From the past history whichever party comes in power destroy business & mistreat individuals with different political views. We will never allow that.
From 90 days to unknown PF
He is a waste of space, the sooner he gets fired, the better
Cheap propaganda will not work on the people of Zambia !!! Remember this is the information age !!! You can not lie to the people all the time without the lies having to catch up with you at one time or another !!! Get cough up the people-driven constitution to mother Zambia…It is NOT YOURS !!! Like you were told yesterday, you will not rule forever !!!!!!
Stop pointin finger and give us the constitution already…u are two years down the line but you still pointing fingers at the MMD…. U hypocrites
Which orifice was the comedian using!
Squealer, Squealer, Squealer! Do you listen to yourself when you speak and does your heart agree with you? What you saw today are red flags and so you will do well to listen to what the masses are saying. Stop the folly of thinking you and your leader have the monopoly of wisdom. Don’t say you were not warned.
AMBI pamenso SWAINI!!! Mwefikopomwe BA makaka
why are getting insulted? days are numbered.Bye bye PF
Kapeya read page 42 of your PF manifesto and ask your boss to do the right thing.no amount of gimmicks will work!SHAME ON YOU!
This one issue that will sink PF if they are playing with Zambians!!!!
Who wrote this Chizungu for you Mr. Fyabukaya? Mukafwila ichanyongolo leave it to Kabimba with his sturboness and arrogance
Someone help me with how to actively join Elias Chipimo’s Government?
Mwansa Kapeya should not panic. But rather hw should develop more treacherous mechanisms to defend PF;s large heaps of “uBUFI”. This is his task in as a Minister of MisInformation in a Government that lacks national credibility. The clock is ticking fast towards 2016.
Ubufi …bwakunya…..mwati na pweeeeeeee!
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