THE GRAND Coalition on the constitution has gathered in Lusaka to analyse and compare the contents of the draft Constitution.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Grand Coalition member Macdonald Chipenzi said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the members of the coalition were meeting in Lusaka to compare the resolutions of the national convention held early last year and the released draft Constitution.
The organization would release its findings to the general public during the course of this week.
“Today, we are concluding the meeting and we will be able to give our findings during the week,” he said.
The Grand coalition would also state the way forward on the Constitution when it releases its position on the Constitution this week.
He welcomed the release of the draft Constitution saying it was long overdue.
Acting President Edgar Lungu should be commended for facilitating the releasing of the draft Constitution and initiating dialogue in the process.
Government on Thursday released the long awaited final draft constitution.
Acting Justice minister Ngosa Simbyakula tabled the draft constitution in parliament describing it as a gift to Zambians as they celebrated the country’s golden jubilee which fell on Friday.
Dr Simbyakula said the release of the draft Constitution would allow the Zambian people go through the document.
Meanwhile Mr Chipenzi said his organization would join the protest against the wage freeze slated for Friday this week.
He said the wage freeze was an infringement on democracy and the Zambian workers hence the organisation’s move to join the protest.
The wage freeze protests to take place countrywide are being organized by the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).
Meanwhile, Acting President Edgar Lungu says Parliament will determine the roadmap of the constitution-making process because it is the only arm of Government that is mandated to make and change laws.
“Law-making is the preserve of Parliament. The executive and even the judiciary, can’t dare touch that process,” Mr Lungu said.
Mr Lungu’s comments come in the wake of some stakeholders demanding a clear roadmap after Government released the draft constitution last week.
Mr Lungu, who is Minister of Justice and Minister of Defence as well as Patriotic Front secretary general, said: “We want a people-driven constitution and so people must now study the document thoroughly and let it speak to them.”
He hopes that Parliament will not abdicate its primary function of making laws by not giving the country direction on the constitution-making process.
“Parliament must not allow anyone to trespass on their function to delete and make laws. This is the separation of powers we talk about,” Mr Lungu said.
“It is Parliament to decide whether we should have a referendum or not. Parliament must provide leadership,” he said.
Mr Lungu said he is alive to the fact that laws come from Parliament but legislators must not forget the feelings and aspirations of the people who voted for them.
“Now that the document is out, MPs must speak to their people in the constituencies they come from. No-one must be intimated and Parliament must lead the way,” he said
Mr Lungu said the executive has done its part and it now remains with the Parliament to lead the way.
“If Parliament says we go the referendum way, we will follow but we must be cognisant of people’s suffering as we make such decisions,” he said.
Please also compare with the leaked one to know if it’s the original document. The new constitution should be used in the 2016 general election hence the need to quickly finalise it’s enactment.
I have read the contents and it is the best piece of documents I have ever come across.
Why on earth are they announcing of their meeting anyway, the PF has met all the stakeholder’s expectation with a draft constitution and then we have this Oxygen thief claiming he is studying and analysing it?
get out of here
Give credit to the most noble party those shores have ever known in PF. They have done all the promises they wanted.
Thanks
These articles on constitution would attract more comments if there was better picture than that SELFIE of Chipedzi… I bet even himself don’t like it.
By adopting the wage freeze, the government meant well. The wage freeze should be seen as a responsible policy intended to create employment and economic stability in the nation. Any tag of war will be costly to the nation. The politics of confrontation in young democracies like ours are responsible for underdevelopment and poverty. It is not too late to stay at work instead of wasting resources through lost man hours. Or are you suggesting that government needs to be swindled by workers? Remember government started by awarding enormous increases first. This smells like betrayal.
This is nonsense!!
The draft constitution has been released, now you want to compare?? Compare what??? I think some Zambians have too much time to waste on their hands.
Grow up and show your value where it really matters!! Atase!!
They want to start drawing from that 29million Kwachas they complained about after the budget was read. That is how it goes!
In the caption pic, I though Sakeni had resurrected! Just shows how perspective angle in photography can dupe.
THERE ARE CONTRADICTIONS HERE. COMPARE WHAT WITH WHAT? UNLESS YOU HAD “ANOTHER” DRAFT TO COMPARE WITH. SO THEN WHERE DID YOU GET IT FROM?
I THINK THE PF IS TRYING TO COME OUT CLEAN ON THIS ONE. THEY STARTED THE PROCESS. NO ONE FORCED THEM. IN FACT THEY UNREALISTICALLY THOUGHT THEY CAN DO IT IN 90 DAYS. BUT ANYWAY HERE WE ARE. I AM JUST LOVING THIS EDGAR LUNGU. SURELY THE PF WILL RULE FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS, WITH OR WITHOUT HEMCS.
Do these people really have anything important to do in their lives? The government has given them the constitution, so why questioning it? Doing so is purely undermining the authority of this great government. Are they implying that Michael Sata’s government is full of deceit? I guess not otherwise they will be committing a serious offense against the govt. They need to be rounded up and quarantined in Chimbokaila prison for a lengthy time.
Please, grand coalition whatever the name you call yourselves, get a life 0k.
I bet you, me and Mushota of course with Saulosi wont allow these people to continue undermining our government,
The measure is appropriate to determine if the documents has since been tempered with or not.