Some opposition political parties, church mother bodies, Civil Society Organizations and other concerned stakeholders championing the enactment of the new constitution have resolved to go ahead and stage mass demonstration over the constitution.
MMD President Dr. Nevers Mumba has disclosed to QFM News that the only workable solution is to demonstrate for a speedy enactment of the republican constitution.
Dr. Mumba has disclosed that genuine opposition political parties, CSOs, church mother bodies and other relevant stakeholders met on Saturday at Red Dragon Hotel in Lusaka and had a consultative meeting on how best they can pressure government to release the constitution and provide a clear road map for the enactment of the new constitution.
Dr. Mumba said that it was agreed during the meeting that the concerned stakeholders will go for massive demonstrations and are ready to face the Zambia Police.
He said that this followed the rejection of the motion presented to parliament meant to urge government to prove a roadmap for the enactment of the constitution.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula has said the Grand Coalition of Civil Society Organisations intending to protest against the constitution-making process is free to do so but will meet the wrath of the police if they contravene the law.
The Grand coalition on the Zambian constitution announced that it would soon embark on a countrywide demonstration to push for the enactment of the new constitution.
Dr Simbyakula said the CSO’s are free to do as long as they comply with the provisions of the Public Order Act.
“Everyone in the country is free to demonstrate as long as they comply with the provisions of the Public Order Act which is administered by the Zambia Police,” Mr Simbyakula said.
And the Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) secretary general Roy Mwaba has said the union would not take part in the demonstration unless it is the aspiration of the members.
And Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director Macdonald Chipenzi said the coalition would conduct their demonstrations in church were they do not need to seek for permission from the Police.
The beginning of the end for PF
instead of this being a mass demonstration, it will in fact be a mass failure
@ Gen
Open your eyes and look around. The tide is turning around.
@ 142
what tide?
you call the tempest in a teapot, a sunami?
This is actually making the PF more popular. You people don’t understand Zambian politics. These demonstration will not take place – the opposition will look foolish with useless ambition. The battle of the constitution was lost immediately a technical team was put in place. There was not legal framework, no roadmap, no deadlines and no adoption mechanism. So what did you expect?
The PF will deliver a constitution in their own time. Unfortunately there is not much the Zambian opposition and civil society can do.
“Everyone in the country is free to demonstrate as long as they comply with the provisions of the Public Order Act which is administered by the Zambia Police,” Mr Simbyakula said.
That is the law; to INFORM police. Senior Counsel, please prevail on the IG to apply the law as written and NOT to exercise discretion ie. the law does not allow her to stop a peaceful demonstration. And for the IG, I wish to advise you madam that when bells will toll for you, these politicians will be no where near you.
Madam IG . You have a cadre of lawyers within your ranks who can advise you on responsibilities for crimes against humanity in chain of command.
I warn all these noise makers…..beware. Stella will crush your boz.
Will the crushing of some activists silence every Zambian forever? Nay!! I encourage dialogue as it is the lubricant of a democratic society unless we now want to become like China or Zimbabwe.
Educated people like Simbyakula sound so foolish when they parrot the autocratic standpoints of their tinpot dictator. Just allow citizens aggrieved by your deceptive leadership to demonstrate and tell the world PF is the waste thing to ever happen to Zambia. Not even the Gabon disaster or the loss of the true son of Zambia, Levy, matches this PF calamity.
Zambians are not angry enough. A critical mass has not been formed yet. When this happens, it will be very obvious. the truth, nonetheless, is that the momemtum towards ignition threshhold is building faster than anticipated. Just watch, listen and appreciate both you physical and psychological environment and you will agree with me.
These demos that are planned is exactly what the PF regime wants. They will use it as an excuse to invoke the declaration of a state of emergency. once we have the SOE, the President has even more excessive powers and can overrule parliament and the judiciary – they will then pass that constitution the way they want and trust me, it will be worse that what we have.