The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has issued a press statement to the media in support of the action taken by opposition members of Parliament to disrupt the proceeding of the house.
According to the statement signed by LAZ president James Banda, LAZ warned that as long as the government continue to trivialise the constitution matter, they should expect that Pressure will continue to come from all well-meaning Zambians who are simply demanding what they are entitled to.
Below is the full statement.
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE DEMANDS BY HONOUABLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT FOR A NEW CONSTITUION-27th February 2014
The Law Association of Zambia welcomes the demands by Members of Parliament for the enactment of a people-driven constitution following the Ministerial statement by the Minister of Justice on the status of the constitution-making process in Parliament. We agree that the Minister’s Statement did not do Justice to the issue considering that the Republican President Mr. Michael. C. Sata has clearly stated that there is no need for a new Constitution.
For as long as the President and his government will continue to trivialize this matter they should expect that Pressure will continue to come from all well-meaning Zambians who are simply demanding what they are entitled to. What is being asked for is exactly what the PF promised; nothing new! We dare say that the President should not be surprised that even his own Ministers and Party officials who he has declared useless have already and or will soon see sense in this whole matter and equally demand that a new constitution be enacted or at least that the process be allowed to run its natural course
We are pleased that finally the Members of Parliament have taken this fight right into the House. Our MPs are elected to stay in the house and debate and not to walk out
The demands of the Member of Parliaments, who represent various constituencies in Zambia echo the growing discontent and waning tolerance of the Zambian people over the failure by the Government to expedite the constitution-making process. The Association again urges and pleads with the government to take swift action to remedy the situation and respond to the People’s cry for a new constitution.
Kind regards,
James Banda
President
You should have Ben in the forefront and not sitting on the fence
You can f00l some people sometimes. But you cant f00l all the people all the time. We want the constitution. People have spoken.
LAZ has limited powers and I don’t think their voice is a worthy voice listening to
regrettably the president can circumvent and probably the minsters, so really whatever their statements are, this is water under the bridge as far as I am concerned really.
Thanks
The point is: are you FOR or AGAINST the new “Citizens Driven Constitution” ? The Animal driven one has become a little too complicated to decipher.
Foolish LAZ! What are you still waiting doing? You must be leading the way on the issues of the constitution….Viva MP’s Viva our country…….Very soon Matibini will join the people’s fight………..It will not be easy but the people will win.
Credit should be given to a few brave MPs who stood on behalf of the already frustrated Zambians wanting to see normality brought back to the running of the country. The constitution is one of a few things the government shouldn’t have taken people for granted. And it adds more insult to injury knowing that it was tax payers’ money was used and yet we were made to feel as though we were not entitled to what we paid for.
This is most the politically inclined LAZ president I have ever seen, he is not even ashamed. Quote: “the Republican President Mr. Michael. C. Sata has clearly stated that there is no need for a new Constitution.” Is he sure the president CLEARLY stated that? We have heard the president use figure of speech in reference to the constitution but nowhere has he indicated that there is no need for a new constitution or that the process has been abandoned all together. How does the entire LAZ president be in support of the behaviour exhibited by the opposition MPs in Parliament. Is this James Banda’s peronal views or the entire LAZ? While we are in support of the need of a new constitution, LAZ should not be so partisan about the issue, you are losing your credibility, things do change.
Now This is LAZ,,, Law Association of Zambia talking!! NOT Animal Law Association of Zambia… Great Job Mr Banda!!!
@LAZ Banda. Kindly go back to sleep or from where ever you have been all this while.
Pathetic toothless LAZ supporting lawlessness in Parliament. Next time those MPs misbehave, the Sergeant-at-Arms must physically throw them out of parliament
been ^ rather
What all of you are not talking about is the tax payers money ALREADY spent on the process. Can we spend billions of kwacha and later just abandon the process? It doesn’t make sense. If PF did not want a new constitution they shouldn’t have started it. As it is now, they have no choice in the matter but to follow through the process, as it tax payers money at stake.
This is the more reason why we want the constitution.
Donor money too! the Donors I watching and this could have hidden consequences if mishandled.
Mr President (MCS)Show leadership the back stops at you.
People Driven Constitution forget the ” Animal” Driven One that you are contemplating.
Please a legacy that is why we voted for you MCS.
‘buck’.
Thanks
Kudos to the many women and men who cannot take the PF arrogance. There is time for everything – the PF seems to ignore that change is possible. Zambians do not need to use the gun to change government. The great parliamentatians have taken the right lead – we need sustained momentum by all the actors. The church and other faith bodies must STAND UP for the people. You have abandoned the people because of comfort zones. Its time for faith leaders to meet on thier own – march to State house, march to Parliament and encourage the Parliamentarians. Media Statements are not enough – go beyond the ordinary, you were not called to leave ordinary lives, you are called to go beyond the minimal – to go beyond the call of duty.
This SATAN the BEAST does not listen to advice, especially with so many pressing issues in the country, ie. kwacha losing value. inflation going up 7.6%, losing elections, skyrocketing price of mealie meal, ever growing unemployment especially on the Copperbelt, his poor health, Chitimukulu installation, GBM issue etc.
These challenges facing the nation today have confused him to the extent that he has stopped using his brain, he is instead using his venom and tribe. By the end of this year, inflation rise will be close to 10%.
Thanks LZA for supporting our real MPs not the PF useless MPs. Is it possible to impeach the President? Let go ahead for tht one Twacula mwebantu
Please reduce the nonsense thought of impeachment lets wait for 2016.This constitution makes it difficult to operate well ,Ask Libya,Egypt etc implement it with caution.Thats why even levy and RB didn’t consider it.When in opposition it suits but when in govt it’s something not easy especially in Africa.Level headedness fequired here.
Let’s net condone thuggery in the house. Lets follow rules and procedure!
Is your avatar a metaphor for the failed panga fighting madness that some Zambians fell for?
Thuggery by appointed member who has been insulting intelligence of huge majority of Zambians? Or thuggery by a person elected under false pretense (in plain English “deception”) which has threatened people Representatives with a bunch of thugs wearing police uniform?
Can you please clarify which thuggery you are referring to?
LAZ that when you have wake up from your long sleep? You LAZ should understand the role you have for this country, To my observation you just follow the wind, I remember your predecessor the way he use to behave, he was a real PF supporter in LAZ skin. You professionals you are very selfish individual that why you can not win cases internationally,Look here Mr Banda that constitution is for the people and the future for us the young generations not Sata,If we had a people driven constitution, we would have fired Sata long time ago and deport Him to TZ,
That’s why he is not willing to implement it in fear of chaps like you manupilating it for selfish gains.even your favourite levy didn’t want it.
it is so disappointing to see an executive which cannot defend and safeguard the interests of it’s citizenry even when they know that the constitution in effect is Draconian and will not stand the test of time as democracy is growing. This will stop at nothing but a constitution with PF or any other sometime but it would be bravery for them to do the best
Don’t just used words anyhow just because you heard a word being used once and you want to copy. What is draconian about the constitution? Do you even know the meaning of the word draconian?
The same chaps who are today demanding for a new constitution are the one who ushered in the current constitution.
someone says LAZ is losing its credibility,since when did this laz run by minor banda and the other toddlers have credibility.THis LAZ is far below elementary and legal soundness.
someone also says we are demandinh the constitution that we were promised,cant someone break his promise?after all he just used his brains to come up with idea while f
other dull pipo were fatting.
Lawyers are agitators for the rule of law (John Locke, Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu) and constitutionalism amongst others. At least that is what the senior learned men taught us in jurisprudence. Well done to the Association!!
Taking the law into your own hands is the only option, go after him.. Viva Ukraine .. viva Syria.
Shouldn’t Sata take a leaf from arrogant KK, who in his uttermost drunkenness with power, thought he could be president for life; and from cocky Frederick Chiluba, who upon discovering that power was that sweet, decided he could go for a third term? In either case, things backfired. What are the odds for Sata to pull this one through?
Look who is jumping onto the bandwagon and coming to the party now? LAZ is really proving their irrelevance in the governance of the country. They should be providing the direction and leading the debate on isssues, especially constitutional issues. Instead they seem to be passive and reactive all the time; are they scared.
Gone are the days during F.T.J regime when LAZ were always the first to jump out of the woodwork to condemn any attempt to bend the law by the regime. Today we have a reactive, sleeping LAZ. Small symblic actions like stripping the likes of Kabimba of their membership when they are facing a tribunal and for bringing the reputation of the association into ridicule can go a long way to justify their relevance.
Maverick you are the irrelevant one, they are Lawyers and know everything to do with law, they are doing their job and you just a hater, i commend them for being our
mouth piece on demanding what was promised to the citizen of Zambia, not forgetting colossal amount of money spent paid by Zambia only for someone to hijack the document, American just reported of our bad human right report which will be worsened with the people being denied a new constitution.
@ China, did you actually read my comment and got the message in it? I think you need to read it again.
The message here is the MPs are the ones who are supposed to be issuing statements supporting LAZ, not the other way round. LAZ should have been leading this debate, rallying and petitioning institutions to act. Anyways!
Level headedness is required here,The president is still going through the draft constitution and will advise when appropriate..meantime inspect developmental projects and ensure completion.PF strategize to ensure discipline is observed.
A country whose President cannot be held to account due to equivocation and persistent untruths is in essence leaderless. The only safeguard against anarchy and blood letting is a proper constitution. I hope the LAZ lead this fight fearlessly and don’t go to sleep again.
It is Sata versas the people who voted him into power , we shall soon see who will win come the next biellection.
May be you meant vie erection,it’s not clear.