SACCORD has called on the PF government through Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda to ensure that it allocates resources for the completion of the constitution making process as he presents the 2015 budget on Friday, 10 October 2014.
SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe says the constitution making process remains in limbo 3 years after the process was started while huge amounts of money continues to be spent on the process which has stalled since it was handed over to the government.
Mr. Cheembe also called on the Minister to account for the resources allocated to the process in the 2014 budget as there has been no activity regarding the process apart from the never ending debate on the whereabouts of the document.
He further urged the Minister to ensure that resources are provided for the conclusion of the constitution making process and for a referendum so as to ensure the adoption of the new constitution.
Below is a full statement on the expectations of SACCORD in the 2015 budget issued by the Executive Director Boniface Cheembe.
7th October 2014
SACCORD Press Statement on 2015 Budget expectations
As the Minister of Finance prepares to present the 2015 national budget, the Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) would like to remind the minister to provide sufficient resources for the following areas which we feel are critical in consolidating our democracy, job creation, improving on human rights, peaceful co-existence and the general wellbeing of the people of Zambia. These are: The constitution making process; funding to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ); respect for human rights; youth employment; job creation; and national Unity. We believe that it is important to build on the gains that the country has continued to record over the years. We therefore urge the Minister of Finance to provide in the 2015 budget for the following:
Constitution making process: The constitution making process has continued over the last 3 years with very little if anything being achieved while colossal sums of taxpayers’ money being allocated to it and in most cases is spent. We note with great sadness that the process has lately been allocated huge amounts of money which cannot be accounted for when it comes to the actual work done. In 2014, more that K40 million kwacha was allocated to this process as far as we are concerned there has been zero work done on the constitution in 2014 apart from the continued debate of where the draft constitution is. We would like to urge the minister to account for this money in his speech and also ensure that enough funds are provided so that the process in concluded and a national referendum held to adopt the new constitution.
We still believe that there is no need to continue dragging this process as most Zambians would like to have a final say on the constitution and this can only be through the referendum being called for by most Zambians.
Electoral Commission of Zambia: In 2016, Zambia will be holding general elections and as the law demands, the Electoral Commission of Zambia will need to register new voters in addition to delimitation of constituency boundaries as a result of new districts that have been created by the Patriotic Front (PF) government. We therefore urge the minister to provide enough funds to the ECZ so that it can begin working on the above programs in order to ensure proper representation of the people was well as allowing for all eligible voters to take part in elections. The commission is critical to the development of democracy in Zambia and we would like to urge government to ensure that its works is made easier through providing for sufficient resources.
Public Order Act (POA): The Public Order Act has remained a challenge in this country. While we note some slight improvements in its administration as compared to 2013, a lot still needs to be done not only with regards the conduct of police officers but the pressure exerted of officers by political leaders in government. We also urge the minister to ensure that enough funds are provided for police to recruit more officers and have enough equipment to be able to guarantee peace and order in the country. We also urge the police leadership to respect provisions of our constitution which guarantee the freedom of association, expression and assembly for all the people in Zambia. This has to be respected regardless of the political party seeking to enjoy these rights belong to.
Human rights: Zambia’s human rights record still remains unimpressive especially when it comes to Civil and political rights. The state despite making commitments to international bodies such as the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in which a lot of concerns were raised regarding the rights for individuals and groups in the country has not done enough to actualize these commitments. We urge government to ensure that it respects the rights of all people in the country by allocating adequate resources to start implementing accepted recommendations under the UPR.
Revised decentralization policy: We urge the Minister of Finance to allocate adequate resources towards the revised decentralization policy so that the country can begin to experience an expedited process of implementation.
Job creation: A number of Zambians are jobless and some of those with jobs have unstable jobs which also do not pay well. This has continued to lead to poverty among the larger majority of Zambians. We therefore urge government to provide for conditions in the 2015 budget which will allow for job creation so as to reduce on poverty levels in the country.
Youth employment: The youths in Zambia are the most affected in terms of lack of jobs. The year 2014 has not been good in that more youths still remain unemployed with some not even able to go to school. We urge the Minister to ensure that funds are provided for alternative income generating programs for youths so that those that can’t get employed can venture into them. We also believe that the Youth Fund should receive more money and these should be given without political affiliation considerations as the accusations have been under the 2013 and 2014 allocations.
National Unity: As Zambia turns 50 years in peace, it is important that the country sustains this peace. The peace Zambia has enjoyed over the years has been as a result of efforts that have been undertaken to work for peace by all people in Zambia. We therefore urge the government and the minister of finance to ensure that programmes that seek to promote national unity receive sufficient funds for them to be sustained.
Boniface Cheembe
Executive Director
SACCORD
Let politicians who want it give towards this constitution let money in govt coffers go towards devèlopmental projects and improve poor peoples lives