THE Church must not fall prey to a small section of people who want to hijack the constitution-making process, Minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba has said.
Mr Kabimba said Government is aware of a scheme by a small group of people who want to hijack the constitution-making process under the guise of championing the will of the people.
The minister said this in Lusaka yesterday in a speech read for him by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabriel Namulambe during a special Sunday service dubbed ‘Harvest Sunday’ at the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Kaunda Square
“As Patriotic Front in government, we get disappointed when the church aligns itself with individuals and groups of people who want to frustrate efforts in uplifting the standards of our people,” Mr Kabimba said.
He also said it is disappointing when the Church decides to rush to the media on matters that can be addressed through direct engagement.
“Our view as Government is that we should all work towards civil engagements rather than hostile media-based confrontations during times of differences of opinion,” he said.
Mr Kabimba, who is PF secretary general, said all stakeholders should direct their efforts towards consensus instead of being confrontational.
“The church wants a people-driven constitution, and so does the PF government and this is why we are working hard to open up platforms for dialogue and consensus building on this important issue,” Mr Kabimba said.
He said it is clear that the development goals of the PF government and the socio-economic roles played by the Church are in tandem.
“The church wants to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and shelter the homeless. In the same vein, the PF government is making tireless efforts through increased social sector investments and implementing a set of pro-poor policies and programmes,” Mr Kabimba said
He said Government cannot successfully carry out the development agenda on its own without the support of the Church.
Meanwhile, the Grand Coalition championing for the speedy enactment of the new republican constitution has praised the Catholic Church for being bold and resolute in accommodating the grand coalition in holding prayer meetings at their premises despite intimidation, harassment and threats from the powers that be.
The Grand Coalition urged Zambians to rise up and be counted in this crusade stating that the constitutional ball is in their hands.
Grand Coalition Spokesperson, MacDonald Chipenzi said that Zambians have waited for a new constitution for a long time and time to rescue it is now or never.
Mr. Chipenzi reminded the government that honoring electoral promise is more honorable than pretending that they never promised.
Mr. Chipenzi said that the earlier the government hands over the document to the owners, the better, if not, the Grand Coalition will use all means possible, civil and uncivilized, to smoke out the constitution from wherever it is being kept.
Mr. Chipenzi said that the Grand Coalition is currently in Mansa District in Luapula Province which is the sixth province that the Grand Coalition on the Campaign for a new people-driven Constitution has organized and successfully held prayers meetings demanding for government to immediately release the final draft constitution.
He stated that many people are asking whether these prayers have yielded anything especially that government has remained adamant in releasing the document to the people.
Mr. Chipenzi, who is also FODEP Executive Director, said that the prayers have achieved a lot among the achievements include: rising of public awareness, confusion in the governments circles laying bare their deceit on the process and we are yet to see more panic on the party of government once we roll-out our activities in the provinces and districts.
A very mature warning by the incumbent.
Well done wynter
Thanks
I wonder why some people in govt behave like they own us! Why treat citizens in this way? Just deliver the constitution as expected. Why does it have to be a hustle to do what is just and right? I really hate being belittled in this way.
ubu ebupuba. you should advise these guys correctly. Let him give the people what they were promised period
Why not read that in Catholic church? You go to some African Methodist, which is Episcopal and in a Kaunda Square. It is such a church which can allow Kabimba’s insults.
@Nostradamus
only witches, abaloshi are scared of the church,,,,,,,,,Why is Kabimba alarmed,, the church is merely praying for a people driven consttution,,,,,, unless kabimba is trying to ban praying in Zambia
Unfortunately Summer you are not seeing yourself as the bad one in this equation. You have hijacked the process and you are destroying everything we gained in 1991. What a shame.
Mr Kabimba, could you define “hijack” in the context of the constitution making process. Who exactly has hijacked the process? There was a road map and now the government is using all tactics to delay and frustrate the process. This document was handed to your government in December and between then and April the government kept denying that the Technical committee had submitted in the draft constitution. Then came the story that there were more important issues requiring funds that the completion of the Constitution making process, even when some participating countries have offered to pay for this exercise. Now its that Zambia has a functioning constitution. Too demonise those holding your government accountable and calling them names is pure evil and nasty on the PF govt’s part…
The following would have helped PF to avoid so many different organisations pushing them to release the constitution:
1. Regular updates on progress. They should not have allowed a situation where people ask for progress.
2. Proper information management. Have one voice providing updates and in a consistent manner.
3. Respect for citizens. When a government promises the masses about something and they fail to deliver, they need to learn to come up with an explanation to pre-empt any complaints.
4. Last but not least, avoid being paragons of pride!
@mushota epo waba sweetie? your comment though is immature
At this stage even if the pf govt is to release the draft constitution and ultimately go through the referendum,the credit will be given to the church and grand coalition.This is because of contradictory statements from the pf government on the matter.its very clear the pf will only fulfill this under extreme pressure from the public.so what’s up on sata ?
Mr Winter unless you have no memories.Why do you like contradicting your selves.Your President directed all Ministers to stop talking about the constitution but why the reason to talk about it now.
Which dialogue do you mean when you send thugs to beat People in churches.Who promised the nation that the document will be delivered in 90 days.
Lies have a short hand my dear Winter.Time is now catching up with you as your lies continue to out number facts no wonder you said PF manifesto is not a true document to be followed and you want civil servants to follow it when you have discredited your own document.Soon you are becoming the worst government in the history of the world.Small business are closing,people are committing suicides,inflation rate raising.Cry my beloved country.
Kabimba and PF think they are gods and shall continue to weird power forever. time will come when you shall regret of your arrogances. Hitler was a threat to the world at one time but his ending was horrible. Idi Amin was another demon who later died in exile, Mubuto Seseseko of Zaire was one other man like PF men, do you know what happened to him? Many examples around you and yet you can not learn a damn thing. This country was once governed by Welensky, Kaunda, Chiluba, Mwanawasa, Banda and today they are not ruling. You too will leave soon, better start behaving ba fi color.
PLEASE KABIMBA SHUT UP AND WAIT 2016
Be reasonable PF these people you are insulting as you go up, you will surely need meet them on your down. think twice
Mr Kabimba in special interview on TV stated clear among other things that zambias who want the constitution as much as they want hospitals , education, road infrastructure, and many other things.There’s no trace of lies to that. He stated that gov’t is concurrently working on all these, nothing is yet finished ,again absolutely true. why then reosort to un civlized means to smoke out the constitution and sadly wanting to use the church to spil blood . l want to believe that what Mr Kabimba said is true the constitution is in motion towards completion just like all other projects the gov’t has undertaken. let’s be honest , the constitution is too valuable and complex to be finished in a day.
If you believe that pigs can fly, then you are right person to believe what this laying bigot says.
@Spy Mashra, we are not talking days here as you put it. Its now coming to 3 years. It has taken other serious African countries under two years to deliver a working constitution. The truth is that there is no will in this government to give the people a “People driven constitution” , period!
Just deliver the constitution sirs! You promised, and followed that by the appintment of a committee, which has duly delivered the document, so why delay its release now that you have realised that it may be against your wishes to stay in power for ever?
The Constitution will be delivered to the owners, Darkness can never over come light. Kabimba is just wasting his time. The time will come when the people driven constitution will be given to the owners.
Shit never ends.It started with KK he failed to give us a people driven constitution.FTJ got into office and used the same constitution to abuse KK.FTJ equally failed to give us apipo driven constitution.LPM came after him and abused the constitution to among other things constitute an unconstituionals task force.RB came and danced away his duty to give us a pipo driven constitution.I laugh each time i see the old fool lined up at Court.Now we have PF with the likes of Wynter behaving like the sun shines from their ass.And soon they will be another example of how not to lead.
Wynter Kabimba warns the Church over the constitution? This takes warning to a new level. Just who do these people think they are? This is what happens when one lacks depth in understanding what constitutes the house of God. That next? Soon PF will start warning God not to fall prey to people’s wishes for a new constitution? Just who do they think they are?. Shocking. I honestly hope, for their sake, PF was misquoted because they have just crossed the line.
I thought its the mijister of justice who had witheld the process how can he claim that some one want to hijack when its in his pockets.
I personally i have confidence with politicians more specifically the pf. Becoz it was clear in their manifesto and campaigns that the constitution will be given within 90 days, but,,,,.
At times you wonder how these people take us for,First a promise we as pf ones elected we will give the zambians the cosntitution in 90days (three mouths) this is third yr in office then sata says we have a constitution already and we do not need a new one and kabimba says they are working on constitution so what are these guyz talking about.Just do people want the constitution a must befor 2016
This constitution which supports first pass the post looks to be good for Kabimba but PF will be shocked in 2016.In Malawi they used the same ,but Joyce Banda was shocked with the results even ordered a recount but the judges ruled out that the results were authentic.Joyce Banda come out in the distant 3rd position.PF may even come 3rd ,second mybe MMD.So winter help yourself to change the constitution now before you regreat.In Liberia George wear would have been president if it were not for 50%+1.Even Guy scott needs to change the parenthood close to allow them contest presidential election.Kwena mwalishishita ba mbuli.Balekeni|||
were is my comment ba lt
Those who think they will gain political mileage by pushing gvt have gotten it wrong.The PF understands better the importance of having a new constitution and it will be delivered at the right time….of course not under pressure from anybody.
I thought Kambimba & co (PF) were the hijackers! Well, I guess he has exhausted all excuses.
Mr Kabimba plan properly and avoid unwarranted acrimony.