THE Grand Coalition on a people-driven Constitution says Government should borrow money from other countries to facilitate the amendment of the constitution through a referendum.
Speaking on Muvi TV’s The Assignment programme on Sunday night, deputy chairperson Sarah Longwe said Government should treat the issue of the referendum the same way it did the unplanned January 20, 2015 presidential election.
“We won’t mind Government borrowing money for a referendum, which can be paid back by our grandchildren. If donors are not interested in lending us the money, we the Zambians can donate whatever we have so that we can have a constitution before the 2016 elections,” Ms Longwe said.
She said the grand coalition realises that having a referendum is expensive, but that Government should know that doing the right thing is always expensive.
Ms Longwe said it is better to have the constitution enacted through a referendum than to have parliamentarians debate it based on party lines.
Ms Longwe also said government should not worry about having a census before the national referendum because records from the 2010 census can still be used.
And a researcher with the Law Association of Zambia, Landilani Banda, said with appropriate sensitisation, the required number of people would vote in the referendum.
Mr Banda who is also a member of the grand coalition, said Government should not worry that there would be apathy.
mu Zambia everything, its borrow,,, yaba!, salt, go borrow, saladi, go borrow,,,
It would be a major waste. It looks like the majority of our brothers and sisters don’t want to take part in politics. The voter turn out is what cost HH the election. Forget about the referendum. It would be a major waste of borrowed money
Borrowing millions of US dollars for a referendum under the current voter apathy would be a crime against the majority taxpayers who find this reckless call a sick clouded in desperation, immaturity and wastage. Let these counterfeits first consult taxpayers at large in a referendum if this unilateral call will receive a popular consent at the expense of capital projects. They have failed to show relevancy on a sick girl in UTH saved from a father who turned out to have been an abusive sexual predator. What economics is behind this call?
Imwe ba Grand Coliation whatever you call yourselves you need to consider what was done in the past. We are where we are because of politicking . We know your donors are pushing you to make noise but don’t just receive all advices as gospel truth. Why push government to borrow which grandchildren are you talking about as if you have any who is working. 2016 is tomorrow we want action now.
We have a choice; live under the current resource wasteful constitution or borrow money once to stop and plug the resource drain. Let us take the obvious option.
A people driven constitution is a key prerequisite for development. Simply said, the poor, hungry, homeless, sick without medicine in the hospital, uneducated are in these situations because of lack of a people driven constitution fundamentally. Without a pepole driven constitution, a government can do whatever it wishes a without any consequences. Successive governments are alive to that fact and that is why they always postpone the passing of a new constitution. Borrowing for this purpose is justified therefore if one is serious about bettering the situation of the masses.
How long are these Panga wielding PF cadre going to continue killing innocent people? The Police should be ashamed of themselves for failing to stop this senseless violence. A good constitution would address…..but PF supporters are generally to dull to engage intellectually, they prefer Pangas
@Ndobo, my I borrow your attention please?
Do you know new telephone number for Guy Scott, the second best Zambian president ever!!
@Ndobo, your friend Field Ruwe sent me a serious article, you wait for day break bro. I will not defend him this time around.
Why borrow money for constitution when donors to fund the referendum can easily be found if PF presents them with a tangible road map and show the political will to enact the constitution by referendum?
Donors are fully aware that PF has no political will to enact the constitution and let alone do so by referendum. Thats why some donors are not showing any willingness to fund the referendum.
The donors funded Zimbabwe ‘s constitution enacting process, why should they not help Zambia, a beacon for democracy in Africa so they like to call it?
Lungu should show his unwavering willing to enact the constitution by referendum first, then NGOs will swing into action to solicit the funding.
Asking for funds for such an important democratic exercise is QED.
This so called Grand Coalition is a group full of crooks who work with double standards. They don’t listen to anyone’s advice that’s the problem they have. If government goes out to borrow money they will turn round and be the first to condemn the government for borrowing more money. Already the condemn the country to be in debts. This group should just be disbanded.
MEANWHILE CHAKOLWA CHAGWA KALE LUNGU HAS STOLEN THE PF PARTY FROM THE BEMBAS AND HAS GIVEN IT TO THE NYANJAS IN EASTERN PROVINCE. BANDA HELPED LUNGU TO STEAL PF FROM THE BEMBAS. BEMBAS PLEASE THE TONGAS IN UPND PARTY. THERE IS A LOT OF SPACE FOR YOU GUYS IN OUR PARTY UPND. AFTER ALL WE HAVE BEEN POLITICAL ALLIANCES SINCE COLONIAL ERA.
Awe naimwe ifya borrowing fyena labeniko. We will do this thing after the 2016 elections.
I have been keen a follower of this discussion and prominent people in Grand Coalition have always assured the Zambians that money is no issue they will find money, have their sources dried up or is it because the US has indicated that it will a waste of resources to hold the referendum now and instead hold it at the same time of elections of 2016 and NOW only attend to non Bill of Right issues?
Now what kind of responsible people are in the Grand Coalition? This is a coalition headed by one know opposition party that makes the loudest noise on Govt’s irresponsible borrowing. Somewhat in its desperation, it sees borrowing for a referendum to be ok and worthwhile investiment as long as it comes before 2016.
Borrowing in Zambia should not be encouraged at any corner or event simply because the money borrowed is never fully utilised for the intended purposes. Half goes into the corruption industry and the remaining half is spread thinly to cover for the intended purposes.
This is outright irresponsible for any coalition or political party to come up with such ignorant ranting. Slowly, slowly this coalition is loosing direction and with it the strength in purpose.
IT’S NOT A MATTER OF WHETHER YOU MIND OR NOT. WHO SAID THE CONSTITUTION MATTER IS ALL ABOUT THE “GRAND COALITION”? IT’S THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE, EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. DO ZAMBIANS MIND? THAT SHOULD BE THE PRIMARY CONCERN, NOT G.C FEELINGS
Wow, Kalaki’s squeeze was a stunner in her day!
Dependency syndrome. Yes, let’s borrow more while the mines close down and you consider refinancing the Euro bond. Next, they should figure out how to squeeze the retrenched people into the already bloated civil service. Good luck with retirement age at 65.
A people driven constitution is a key prerequisite for development. Simply said, the poor, hungry, homeless, sick without medicine in the hospital, uneducated are in these situations because of lack of a people driven constitution fundamentally. Without a pepole driven constitution, a government can do whatever it wishes a without any consequences. Successive governments are alive to that fact and that is why they always postpone the passing of a new constitution. Borrowing for this purpose is justified therefore if one is serious about bettering the situation of the masses.
I guess the argument is that if we can borrow on behalf of Zimbabwe, if we can borrow for a rail line that is still not fully—operational despite huge injection of money, health posts that have been promised every year but not seen, roads leading to non-economic viable areas, to buy helicopters costing millions of dollars to transport bags of maize…….then surely we can borrow for a constitution that will stand the taste of time.
kikikikki referendum which won’t go through because of voter apathy.These chaps, do they use data or there is indeed something w wrong in these so called NGOs?I can’t understand them.Who is going to vote for a constitution which pipo don’t understand?
Villagers can’t just understand the constitution if it’s translated in the local language otherwise they’ll be voting for something which they don’t understand.Please these NGOs will lose 2.5% popularity they are enjoying from Zambia pipo.They are fighting for something which can’t work this year.we are not ready for voting for smtg pipo don’t understand.What we need is to make amendments in the constitution which are vital.We can’t be changing constitutions like clothes.Please NGOs sober up
Exactly, because the GC is politicized. This simply focuses on the 50+1 clause which I think is impracticable and defies the wishes of the majority.
speak for yourself madam Kalaki…we are already waist-deep in debt. we dont need anymore. as if a constitution will guarantee food on the poor man’s table. smh
Zambians you suck.All Zambians now days except a few are normal .Democracy is Zambia will be a thing of the past.The democracy we fought for in 1991 has been washed aside by The Bemba tribal clique so called PF mafias.They want to rule this country with an iron fist and are busy killing each other because of political affiliation.Shame on Zambians in PF.Your day or reckoning is near for God of armies has said.This country will be another Somalia,after the death of Said barre.
Those PF cadres do not understand the value of a constitution. The Government is the one in the forefront of belittling the constitutuion because they know that once enacted through a referendum, they cannot be doing nonsense things as they can be taken to court or asked to justify why. In the process, they will do the right thing unlike know were we cannot even hold them accountable for misuse of public funds like presidential trips, reckless borrowing to which our grand children will be subjected to misery. PF government think…and think for the better of Zambia please.
Address the structure of the electoral act first. Apathy is being used without addressing the fact that the playing field is not even in existence. Scrap the archaic practices of your electoral practice before you even begin to consider borrowing so you can take 75% of the borrowed funds to your own devices! Even mindsets are archaic!!! Amazing.
Sarah’s appreciation of the situation is spot on. Referendum is really a test of good governance and democracy. It is childish to start by wasting money on discussions about the Constitution and then to start crying that money is finished. The discussions were largely ceremonial or academic because the basic tenets are sacrosanct. Just look at Kenya’s approach. You will agree that the new Constituion was more affordable. Referendum now!
MY GRAND MOTHER ASKED ME TO EXPLAIN THE RELEVANCE OF
THE NEW CONSTITUTION TO HER SITUATION.. RURAL DWELLER
GUYS I WAS AT PAINS CONVINCING HER…..ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
CAME TO DEFENDING WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT!
A VERY GOOD OBSERVATION AND WAY FORWARD MY SISTER. WE ARE NOT GOING TO BACKTRACK ON THIS ONE. A REFERENDUM IS THE WAY, AND IT SHOULD COME BY END OF THIS YEAR. WE DON’T WANT ANYMORE DELAYING TACTICS!
Have you got the money and political recourse to garner the requisite majority of participants in a referendum as required by law. Are you suggesting that the current elected parliament of Zambia is not the wish of the people. Is it the understanding that the majority in parliament is against the draft constitution while the perceived masses in Zambia are for it. I say the collective answer to all this is no.
Therefore I say let Parliament rubber stump whole thing and we move on without wasting time and resources
Absurd, absurd even the donor community have shunned sponsoring the referendum immediately before the election. Referendum, registration of voters and elections in the space of two years? Guys awe mulebako serious. We now know your heartless and wicked. There are shortages of commodities in the country and in hospitals drugs which will be brought immediately by a new constitution? At least US the so called democratic nation says it is absurd.
You are right madam, if Lungu can borrow money on behalf of Zimbabwe to repair Kariba Dam, what can stop us to borrow money for referendum.
I think Grand coalition will perform because the people who were bringing cofusion like Frank Bwalya (former Priest) and Chipimo the sale out.
Please work and in hand with ZEC so that we can have the constitution. Ignore some negative statements you are reading. We will give you the support until we get the constitution.
Did he borrow ndalama za nyoko
Borrowing money will be the easy part, putting it to use and actually produce the required majority participation is totally different. There is just no time and public appetite for more electioneering and campaigns. If the perception is that we are all agreed on the draft constitution then let our representatives in parliament quickly put through the bills to align the current law to the desired one quickly and efficiently. So far No single MP is against the Draft constitution. And they have the power to make it -at least 90% of it – into law
Having money today will not translate in a new constitution before ELs term expires next year. The elephant in the room will always be voter apathy.
We know now it is political. After losing chimibaba zoona. You are heartless and don’t have a compassion for mother Zambia the country you are all striving to govern ishhiiiiiiiiiih. Referendum and Kariba dam? Your people in the village live in harmony and lived well with the village concept of chieftain rules.
Ati people driven constitution, you mean the current one is animal drven.
A constitution is not a priority ,PF will give us a good constitution in there own time .please Lets give them a break. Grand Coalition please find something else to do, there are other things you can focus on. And Muvi Tv why bring up this old issue now? thats why people are lossing confindence in you , its like you have an agenda.
Takuli ifya kukongola apa bwesheni impiya shabene ishama gay.don’t put our president in presure he was noty ther busy pama tv ati ebalebomba pali constitution ba makaka.
talking only ,no action. thats all they do.how can they think like that when the country has so much debt already. they mean no good for the country at all.
Ama guys balusa so batampa compaign using GC. No wonder NAREP and ABZ have left if. We know you and speak a language which majority of Zambians don’t apptreciate. Print T-shirts so that we can wear afterwards we vote NO.
Somebody tell me, if a constitution is not people driven, what else is it? In short, what is a people driven constitution?
Ifyabupubafye….ataseee…..
Grand coalition or whatever you call yourselves stop dreaming,Zambia is a small economy that cannot be borrowing anyhow,you even have the decency to say it can be paid back by your grand children. Instead of you coming up with ways that will serve this country colossal sums of money as regards the constitution you are asking us to borrow some more……….Hopeless NGO
Zambians never think of adopting the constitution through parliament. We know how this government is jittery about 50+ 1, proportional representation, presidential running mate, and other many important as in the draft. We can only do so (parliament way) if parliament will just enact and not adopt which will require debating and changing things. You know the arrogance of numbers that PF has in the house. They have been fighting for this from day one. Mr Kabimba and Dr Guy Scot at least told us they wanted numbers. They got them by hook and crook as you are all witnesses. Please can we as Zambians start seeing the link between a good constitution and good governance and poverty prevention/elimination. There is a strong link and dont be cheated by slogans from a self centred MP or minister
constitution or not poverty continues, violence continues,unplanned settlements continues, robbery continues, corruption continues etcccc.
there is no country in the world today which can boost of not having the above vices simply because the have an excellent constitution eg USA
We shud focus our energies on sorting out the real issue which is morality. imorality is just too rampant in our society and making us think having a document will end the evils. good luck
There are some Zambians who oppose the borrowing of funds to complete the process of new Constitutional making. From recollection, ever since the process of people’s driven constitutional making began some 30 years has been based on availability of resources, money and technical know how. The last 3 governments allocated huge sums of money to this process and the result is a story of money once again to continue the last stages of the process.
Surprisingly, those who now oppose borrowing money for this purpose do not even offer any alternative to the new constitution. The current constitution is old and primitive, depriving Zambians various rights, repressive by government without any recourse at all.
This “Me too” altitude is disaster for Zambia, we need new thinking as a country.
Imwe ba mayo ninshi yamiponena,mule landa nokulanda ati you don’t mind borrowing your grandchildren will pay back.which grandchildren the ones you throw in the streets,the ones you watch wallowing in poverty.
Where are our priority areas Zambia .To the madam,what kind of Zambia do you wish to live behind?
A poor country with a good peace of paper.some of us have good papers but without jobs will my children benefit from that paper?
Most of you in the so called grand coalition have personal interest and are being used by politicians so you tarnish the image of the other while building that of another but in the process injuring the common man & woman in the street who doesn’t even know what the constitution is & for what benefits.
May God grant Zambia forgiveness from this…
Is this for real? Are these people from planet Zog?
It’d be a waste of borrowed money. America has already said they’d be reluctant to lend the money because people turnout is not guaranteed to be any better than at elections.
Just being difficult and for some strange reason deliberately delaying the constitution after screaming the house down for it! Kabimba got sacked because of these people. Now they are playing his game of delay.
How cavalier. Have they lost their senses? We are going to get electricity from Kariba Dam; borrowing for it was correct and a good investment. For referundum? No. Waste. Parliament route best.
Grand Coalition it would be better to agree on everything about this constitution and then hold a referendum as part of the 2016 tripartite election. This would reduce the cost of the referendum to printing ballot papers. The country would still have a people driven constitution from 2016 onward.
Please give us a break imwe ba “Grand Coalition”. Honestly speaking there is something terribly wrong with this NGO. How can you compare the presidential bye-election which is constitutionally a mandate following the demise of a sitting president to the referendum? Are people genuine in this whole process?
Its the same coalition which wanted to hold H.E. Mr. Lungu hostage by forcing him to sign the unbinding document during the elections. He refused and people voted for him winning the elections.
Yes the “new” constitution is certainly required but not under gun point. It can be adopted through Parliament because the majority of the people the coalition is asking to adopt the constitution through the referendum DONT understand a damn thing, so why waste money?
AND THIS KA EDGAR LUNGU IS BUSY TRYING TO FIGHT HH AND UPND, THINKING WE DON’T HAVE BRAINS SO WE CAN NOT DEFEND OURSELVES. YOU GOT YOUR CHEAP, ACHAIC AND OUTDATED POLITICAL GIMMICKS FROM OLD DYING TYRANT MUGABE, AND YOU STILL THINK IT CAN APPLY IN OUR ZAMBIAN ENVIRONMENT, AND IN THIS 21st CENTURY. FORGET IT! IN FACT YOU LUNGU ARE A FOREIGNER FROM MALAWI, SO STOP FIGHTING THE TRUE OWNERS OF ZAMBIA. WHETHER NEW CONSTITUTION OR OLD CONSTITUTION, ZAMBIA WILL VOTE FOR HH AND UPND IN 2016. VIVA UPND VIVA! VIVA HH VIVA!
I have heard and read this rhetoric from UPND before. The insults mixed with illusions. In fact, just last month and guess what UPND, HH, ZWD all lost… nothing new here. The loss is in your face come 2016 again, especially if you continue to be bitter and insulting and full of your selves.
@ moombe , continue crying Bitterness my friend, you are hating when Chagwe is busy enjoying in state house, hatrad is just affecting you and not the person you hate in the End ,you are a loser.
Borrowing just to please you? Just who the heck do think you are, you jerks!
We dont want a show of hands to enact the constitution as it happened in Kabwe in December. In a democracy everyone should have a voice with or without money. They are borrowing bilions of dollars to construct roads to places where people need jobs. If thiis Gvt was serious it should have started with making industries to plug the country from importing even the useless tissue from south africa. Real job creation, then followed by roads. After the roads how are the few people employed in road construction going to remain in employement? Back to the streets? And they are still borrowing!
Borrow money for the referendum? Is the Grand Coalition trying to imitate Roy “Kalaki” Clarke’s satire?
We don’t mind a good laugh once in a while ba Grand Coalition, but if what you saying is not satire then you have lost it. Thought of disbanding before you embarrass yourselves?
This is bigger than any party and than any person! If you truly love this country you need to help get this agenda move. The UN has been telling Zambia for years that we have the worse bill of rights and your leaders know this very well but they chose to continually turn a blind eye. What is true is each party only uses this to gain political mileage but once in power they change goal posts. We need to take this matter up ourselves and force which ever govt is in place to get this constitution. Personally have had the benefit of being thru the drafting of this document and its the best this country has so far. Stop being political for once and look at the bigger picture. Who ever is to lead this country needs to be accountable, needs to be inclusive! Quit thinkin on party lines
The UN is trying to always add mundane rights into the bill of rights of moral nations. Do not be deceived.
I have read this so called Final Draft Constitution. All i can see is confusion. This document was rushed , ambiguous, and based on wishful thinking. To be honest to this Grand Coalition , which is really not representative of the people, this document you want for Zambia is a flawed document. Try for once to be objective before we start on this costly experiment.
At the root of all of this is voter apathy. The so-called educated masses in Zambia do not vote. Whereas the demand for a referendum to enact the constitution is a noble idea, the people who will vote are illiterate and impoverished which leaves them at the mercy of pf. So whether this goes through parliament or referendum pf has got this in the bag. whichever way you look at it, it is a lose lose situation. Zambia, the dark country…
THE ISSUE OF BORROWING SHOULD BE THE LAST RESORT. HOWEVER, WE ALL NEED THE NEW CONSTITUTIONB LIKE YESTERDAY. BUT WHAT IS THE MODE BY WHICH WE SHOULD ADOPT THE NEW CONSTITUTION? IF WE GO BY THE REFERENDEM THERE ARE SOME ROADBLOCKS IN THAT ROOT. WITH THE CURRENT APATHY TOWARDS VOTING, WE MAY NOT REACH THE DESIRED NUMBERS ie 50% OF ALL ZAMBIANS THAT HAVE REACHED VOTING AGE MUST TAKE PART. THE FEAR WITH THIS IS THAT YES THE GOVERNMENT CAN BORROW AND IF LESS THAT 50% OF EXPECTED VOTERS TURN UP, THEN THE WHOLE PROCESS WILL BE NULL AND VOID. THAT IS WHAT WE FEAR. NOW THIS SHOULD NOT BE USED AS AN EXCUSE FOR NOT ENACTING THE NEW CONSTITUTION. WHY CAN’T WE ALLOW PARLIAMENT TO DECIDE? OR WHY CANT WE ALLOW PARLIAMENT TO DECIDE ON SOME CLAUSES WHILE THE BILL OF RIGHTS GETS SUBJECTED TO REFERENDUM?
Let people approach the constitution with clear mind and do things that will not plunge the country into deeper waters again. W hat is this CG
Sara Longwe. You are married to a white man and therefore to talk about grand children from you is laughable. Why does Zambia have such people hiding their political motives in NGO’s
The constitution contents will not be debated in parliament but by the people themselves. The document to be submitted to parliament would be driven and greed by the people. Parliament will have no chance to debate it but only to endorse it and pass it. That is all. What will be the difference if same contents in the document are passed by parliament or referendum. Then if Sara can talk like this, Then lets us do away with Parliament. Zambia is a representative democracy. Why should NGOs usurp the powers of elected people. This is anarchy.
@JL
Well said and accurately put. Anarchist at work in these NGO’s.
They are pointless and exist on funds from abroad. That is why they are so morally lax.
A constitution alone does not yield to economic development and prosperity. Its Science, Technology and investment in job creation plans. USA, China and UK are what they are not because of constitution but because of the partnerships that universities, research institutions, business have with Government. This is what we need to focus on. Bla Bla Bla and choking elected leadership with unnecessary arguments will not take us anywhere. We know some of you want to be noticed and get government appointments. One thing Sara needs to know that you will be surprised that PF may win the election with or without new constitution in place. This is what is likely to happen.
So take advantage of the good will of this government and dialogue with its road map
At grand coalition, a few minutes ago you accused of over borrowing but now because of your selfishness you want government to borrow for your selfish gains. Govt will not borrow.
Who appointed the Grand Coalition to speak on behalf of Zambians at the expense of parliamentarians? Find the money yourself! Why cant we vote on the Constitution on the same day that we have general elections? Add an extra paper – Finished. This obsession with ”People Driven Constitution” intended to benefit only one party is not only premature but childish and immature. Get a life!
hh give us some money for the referendum…..
I think you have a good proposal
Let HH sponsor it
@JL
Ha haaaaaaa! Good idea!
Well said and accurately put. Anarchist at work in these NGO’s.
They are pointless and exist on funds from abroad. That is why they are so morally lax.
This new constitution will have new issues introduced which most Zambians will not understand but will be expected to vote for in the referrendum. Why would we want to spend such a collorsal amount of money that would take decades to repay just to prove a farce, when same could be achieved by their already existing representatives at no extra cost? What is the motive behind this demand? Are these people truely Zambians? Do they go out of Lusaka to see where money is needed?This so called grand coalition seem to have failed to read the mood of the people again like Nawakwi and her FDD are doing openning their mouths anyhow. People are election wearly. The referrendum could easily recochet on them and people vote ‘No’ like they were disappointed when they volwed to de-campaign Edgar and…
To give an impression that a “:people-driven” is a recipe for development is damn wrong. In Zambia the NGOs are giving the poor electorate an impression that once a new constitution is in place, then there problems are solved. Countries have developed under dictatorships (South Korea). Development is a complex subject and please let’s try to be careful as we continue misleading people.
Imwe ba GRAND how many people low class have you sensitised about the same constitution?do they know it ?for them to vote?let parliament do the job they are our reps.
Short sightedness is what we refuse to be subjected to. Money will never always be enough. A good example is when RB told Zambians that the Mongu Kalabo Bridge could not be built or started because of lack of money, but later when PF came into office, it just said money for the bridge has to be found because it was a priority. What are we saying now, we want the constitution referendum to be done and suspend other projects, because this is one off event and you will be with the constituion for many years to come. On this one I do not think there is logic enough to say we direct money to the suffering masses in the country side, this is out. Country side issues will be addressed adequetely after the constitution is put in place. Sometimes I personnally dont like dealing with social scintist