Heated debate got underway in Parliament today on a motion meant to urge government to provide a roadmap for the enactment of a new constitution.
UPND Mazabuka Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo moved a private member’s motion for the house to urge government to provide a roadmap for the enactment of a new constitution and also to expedite the process considering that the work of the Technical Committee on Drafting the Constitution has been completed and is ready for submission.
In moving the motion, Mr Nkombo outlined the country’s history of constitution review processes starting with the Chona Commission of 1972, the Mvunga Commission of 1990, the Mwanakatwe Commission of 1993, to the Mung’omba Commission of 2006.
Mr Nkombo said there was need for the government to posthumously honor the people who led the processes of constitution review but have since passed on.
Mr Nkombo further made numerous references to statements on the constitution by President Michael Sata while in the opposition including the promise to deliver a constitution within 90 days.
He stated that President Sata’s statements on the constitution lately have been worrying.
He says there is need for the PF government to respect the process of constitution making which they started on their own.
And seconding the motion, MMD Chembe Member of Parliament Mwansa Mbulakulima urged the PF government to fulfill all the promises President Michael Sata made on the constitution making including when he made his first address to the National Assembly.
Mr Mbulakulima says President Sata has shown a lack of interest in the constitution making process considering the statements he has been making.
And contributing to the debate on the motion, Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba said the promise to deliver a constitution in 90 days was made out of knowledge as to the levels of corruption and mismanagement of the affairs of the state by the MMD government.
Wapya!!!!!!!!!!!
Why they didn’t beat that Kabimba, did he have ka hyena tail in his hands again?
VOTING FOR THE MOTION IS ONE THING, THE ROAD MAP IS ANOTHER.
kabimba’s charms failed to prevent the motion from being presented? even in pictures he loos drunk with african charms.
Mr Nkombo said “expedite the process”. This is where the problem is. Why do you want to put the process on fast track, this is a constitution bwana. You are so focused on the 50%+1 article. My word of advice; If God says it time for PF to go, they’ll go with or without 50%+1 or alliances. If God says it’s not time up yet for PF, with or without 50%+1 they’ll stay. No one can fool God. RB had billions of kwacha where is he today? Many believed Obama was only going to run for one term, he’s still president. People can talk and debate all they want at the end of it all God holds the key.
once something goes wrong with this country you should blame God also. What is with the business of including God in politics?
Seriously UPND must consider Garry Nkombo as their leader. I am not UPND but I find Garry as a level headed guy, he looks at the bigger picture and genuinely wants the country to move forward.
he sounds like a natural leader who attracts attention, people listen when he talks and commands respect.
Maybe then UPND will cease to be a Bantustan, regional and tribal party and will assume a national character
Further, this is how the opposition must fight for the constitution not by thuggery, crookedness and fraud they displayed a few days ago.
@Expadite the process. The Bible says God helps those who help themselves. Zambia is in the Economic mess we find ourselves in today because of a bad constitution. We have not helped ourselves to enact a good constitution that will form the foundations for economic growth. Unless we do that, we will continue to wallow in poverty because all leaders that come forget about the constitution because they become so comfortable with power and wealth. God helps us to remove these leaders with the hope that they ll deliver on their promises. On four occasions, these leaders have disobeyed God. It is now time for people to help themselves by demanding a constitution instead of waiting for new leaders who will again disobey God. I am confident that this time around God will help us.
@1.4 Expedite the process==Only a foolish god would do what you are talking about. Devil take your god and burn him in hell!
Mwansa Mbulamano should just shut up. He was in the corrupt govt that has made this constitution making process even to reach this alarming level.
So u never reform wen given a chance?
MIGHTY NSHANSHA…..
If we are to take your way of reasoning, then Hon. Kabimba and PF should not continue in office for tricking us into voting for them. We voted for them because they promised the 50+1 and many other good things in the new draft constitution.
Twisting things the way you are doing will not take Zambia anywhere. Its people like you who bring chaos because of your love for tricks, love for people who ditch others after tricking them to vote or support them.
Seriously, Hon. Kabimba’s statement does not deserve support from Zambians who think of the national interest. This is really nauseating, sickening, annoying, being fooled like this……
Lusakatimes you are a very useless team. Apart from heavily editing news that is otherwise very interesting and brings out the truth, you report very late. Why don’t you just change your name to Lusaka PF News?
Go to your UPND WATCHDOG YOU FOOL
Its the corruption @ mismanagement in mmd started by Cycle Mata while Mbimba was eating from the same pot. Lies always comes back cycle mata.
Well said Nali… Sata was part of the corrupt MMD and what I can’t understand from his supporters is that he was once a wolf (in MMD) and changed to a sheep to live among the herd of sheep but can one honestly change that much? He is merely a wolf in a sheepskin. Hence, PF supporters open your brains and think, it is not rocket science you know. You are so dull it hurts!!!!!!!!!!!!
My worry is (and I hope it is because this atricle has been edited) there was no mention of why it is very important to have a people driven constitution. Sata himself it seems does not understand why he was calling for a people driven constitution when he was in the opoosition. I don’t hear it explained adequately why a people driven constitution is a priority from the opposition. Chiefs and the masses at large are clueless why we need it also. The most important item was to elaborate on why a people driven constitution is important and not who did what in the past. The opposition a re missing an opportunity to influence the masses rationally over this issue by explaing in simple terms how a people driven constitution affects the inflow of more money in their pockets.
This motion will be defeated when it comes to voting in parliament. I think the opposition have clearly run out of ideas on how to force govt to implement a new constitution.
Zambia my country.
Its even good if its defeated so that we can confirm that PF does not want a new constitution and we the people can send them packing in 2016
In other ways no matter the outcome PF is F….. ked
Can this motion be made law? Just thinking…
yayayayayayayayayaaaaa…. Mr speaker Sir!!! Way forward bwana speaker?????. Only scared of a 50+1 clause… bamambala aba
The arrogance of number will take care of that, let Garry Nkhombo continue with his mental musturbation hoping that the PF MP’s and a few surrogates will support his motion. Thats is how far you can go Bwana HH, Nervers, LAZ and few of you minions.
Is Kabimba educated? If you claim that the MMD government was corrupt; why is it that they have not lost any substantial court hearing on corruption? And this is coming from a Justice minister?
What about the bye elections induced due to the corruption of those whose seats were nullified? Andrew Banda etc… amnesia at its best!!!!
Ati “the 90 days promise wasmade with the corruption of MMD in mind”.
That has always typical of failures. They don’t think about how best to move forward, but where to shift the blame..
MMD or not, they should just give us the bl#% constitution. If they do what MMD was doing, then they should expect what MMD got.
Whether they see no constitutional void, view the current constitution is valid, (because it’s not animal driven) or indeed see no need, the constitution they MUST deliver!
We have seen it. And liked what we saw. whether PF likes what is there or not is immaterial.
HALLO!!!
PF is caught up in its own web of lies. It appears they want to stay in power forever but the support is dwindling due to poor economy under their leadership. PF is the party that cannot be trusted. Even some key members within PF are not happy of what is currently going on but cannot just voice it out. The people of Zambia need the new constitution. I urge opposition MPs to continue piling up pressure on this irresponsible party in power. The people of Zambia cannot be taken for a ride. There are currently using the chiefs to reject the constitution with the full support for their choir master who is based at bwinjimfumu through his propaganda Past Newspaper. We shall fight and get what is ours otherwise time of reckoning for PF is slowly drawing near. We shall boot them out in 2016.
Keep giving them hell!
Kabimba at it again stop blaming other people, you promised without knowing what you are promising the people, blaming game won’t work here just tell us the road map, you are in the driving seat now.
Politicking and after that you are done, at the end of it, its the ordinary Zambians who will suffer. Please think of that person in the village and not just doing politics.
You think these guys care about you or the guy in the village?
Oh ! So these guys are back in parliament ? Awesome ! It is always a better idea to fight from the inside.Well done.
USELESS MP’S I DONT SEE ANYTHING NEW HERE TO BE CALLED HEATED DEBATE, with such proceedings how can heat be generated, we want real heat like beating someone NOt kubwetuka chabe on things we already know
Thats how it should be lets fight for others.
Guy Scot and others are worried tht PF will loose the GRIP on Power. Bit the fact is tht YOU ARE OLD and then is no need to WITHOLD the CONSTITUTION. MR Sata may not even reach 2016.
Why getting scared. Infact as Zambians we said tht we will put as PRESIDENT FOR ONE TERM then HH or Chipimo in 2016.
Whts a PROBLEM NOW……?
The problem now is that these PF criminals know that if they pass the new Constitution THEY WILL BE OUT!
And then the prosecutions for their crimes will start. And they will make RBs persecution look like a quiet joke.
Anyway 2016 is coming, and then these kangaroo “tribunals” and Satas auntie “acting” Chief Justice style rulings will be history.
REAL JUSTICE will come to Zambia.
Lol! @ Ben aunty acting….
May be the latter
in a democratic nation such as ours with a democratically elected patriot leader like HE MCS, debate is encouraged. discussions are allowed. the constitution will be delivered. the president reassured you and the diplomats just yesterday. not to go off topic but just out of curiosity what is a mumembe?
Fyachita bwino to go back
Today the Speaker was magnanimous. Especially when he reminded Kabimba who was busy politiking instead of addressing the issue at hand. The Speaker reminded Kabimba in simple terms to stop waffling and present the Roadmap. Unfortunately, the dull chap had nothing to offer. Pity ba Excellency, he has so much trust in this man who has nothing to offer to him or the people of Zambia. He could have just said there will be no new Constitution, then the Zambians would have shown the PF regime a road map of losing faith. Kabimba you have no love for this country or Mr. Sata.
SPOT ON, OLEMEKEZEKA
This is a private member bill to move a motion to hear a matter and cause action. I am just wondering if UPND really want to go forward why not change its leadership could one of the others be more formidable and lead us to victory just a thought.
THE ISSUE AT HAND IS THE CONSTITUTION AND NOT THE UPND LEADERSHIP. WHY ARE YOU DIVERTING ATTENTION FROM THE PF TO UPND?
Opposition is like a wife in a home or salt in food; they are needed for completion. Imagine parliament forever without opposition MPs…
MMD! Lost under the same constitution. Rupiah probably regrets he never signed a better constitution. PF will regret too! Unfortunately that time the nation may not be so forgiving and could call for serious criminal charges to be instituted on all those that had a hand in this waste of money on an invisible constitution. This same constitution could turn round and bite the PF very hard. It is up to members of the PF to decide what they don’t want to see in future.
Welldone opposition!
Good don’t just run away from the house. be strong if you are men
why is the new constitution still a matter of debate?
What should not be allowed is for parliament to adjourn without a clear road map on the constitution. The opposition should not be hoodwinked with promises from Kabimba that do not make sense. So I hope PF will reply with a well crafted response this time on Tuesday, otherwise the adjournment should not be accepted. Enough is Enough! So much money was wasted on this constitution we cannot allow it that much more is wasted. A new constitution is a must! Let Sata and his minions get this in their heads! This is not a negotiable option. Matibini, do you hear that? Otherwise you Matabini will be held responsible and history will judge you harshly.
Kwacha at 6.2 and soon it will be 7 and then 9, then Zim millions. PF MPs shall avoid the shame of being a part of the government that has brought miseries and economy to the brink. They shall just resign and force fresh elections.
@28, KK11- what shall not be allowed is for President to dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections without constitution in place. I can sense PF can buy time and bounce back for another term under old constitution. Slight unity shown by opposition will dissipate the moment fresh elections are called for. Sata will win with ease.
Clearly, the PF leadership is not ready to work with Zambians for a new constitution. Let us vote for another party into power. As you do so, please do not recycle the same guys from UNIP, MMD and now PF. As for UPND, please reshuffle Mr. William Banda to other responsibilities within your party and not as advisor to the President!! He only knows UNIP politics and is likely to fight any moves to give Zambians a new progressive people-driven constitution. Why do you think PF is so attractive to former UNIP and MMD cadres??? The difference between the two parties is zeror. That is the answer. Do you still think UNIP-style rule can move Zambia forward?? That is the choice you have to make. For the young people who do not know UNIP, please read a bit. Literature abounds on this subject.
This Kabimba is a shocker… he seems to be coming up with a new excuse every week without finding one that sticks or making sense. Is it really nothing Zambians can do to get rid of this guy, like NOW?
He said there was poverty and corruption; this lacks any basis. These guys went ahead and spent billions of dollars through paying the review commissioners that they themselves put together only to turn around and claim we cannot proceed because of ‘poverty’. I tend to believe the next stage should be cheaper as it would just be as simple as getting 2-third of the MPs to adopt the Draft copy in its entirety, without spending any extra payment to them beyond their usual pecks. Referendum, yes that’s another story altogether but even that, donors could easily be found.
So is he saying they won’t do it until poverty and corruption are completely eliminated? And when is that gon be? How can Zambians prosper without a good constitution that empowers them to and how can corruption without a good constitution that checks these ‘mambaras’ unlimited powers? Also how could the process have moved had the MPs ‘not disrupted House proceedings’ when the progress, we are told, is hinged on poverty eradication? Apparently corruption is only corruption if it is practiced by someone else and not them. Incredible!