THE Grand Coalition on the Campaign for a People Driven constitution says it will start paying courtesy calls on chiefs to discuss the need for a new constitution.
Chiefs in Mpika district of Muchinga province appealed to President Edgar Lungu not to release the final constitution until contentious issues have been resolved.
The chiefs speaking through Chief Kabinga said the constitution should not be hurried until Article 296 which gives the president power over land had been amended.
“Mr President you should not be in a hurry to release the constitution until the article 296 of the constitution that is taking power away from the chiefs,” chief Kabinga said.
He added that chiefs exist because of land hence the power to administer land should remain with them.
Chief Kabinga was representing eight other chiefs that include Senior Chief Kopa, chief Chikwanda, Mpumba, Luchembe, Nabwalya, Mukungule, Kabinga and Chilindaponde.
But President Lungu said he is ready to release the constitution even now but that people should study the draft and deal with all the contentious issues in the draft.
President Lungu said he can look for money and go for a referendum for people to vote for the constitution but the chiefs objected that they don’t want the constitution in its current form because of the land article.
“Your excellence, we are ready to wait for the constitution even after 2016 to make sure that we amend the Article 296,” chief Chikwanda said.
The Chiefs said the President should ignore the Grand Coalition who they said does not exist according to them.
But the Grand Coalition on the Campaign for a People-Driven Constitution chairperson Fr Leonard Chiti in statement released in Lusaka today says it acknowledges that Chiefs and Traditional Leaders are major stakeholders in the governance of the country and very critical to the constitution reform process.
“In view of this, the Grand Coalition will make courtesy calls on all Chiefs in the country to discuss with them the need for a new people driven constitution before the 2016 General Elections. Through these visits and other planned engagements, we hope to reach some understanding with their Royal Highnesses on why Zambia needs a new constitution as soon as possible,” Fr Leonard Chiti said.
The Grand Coalition during these meetings will put its position very clear on the concerns being raised by the chiefs on the contentious issues of land ownership in the country.
“Our proposed meetings with the traditional leaders are also meant to discuss with illustration section by section of the draft constitution, why it is important for the people of Zambia to adopt a new constitution through a referendum,” he added.
Now they have received the money from the donors. Instead of spending it prudently, they want to visit one chief after another and get hefty allowances. Why not call for the Chief’s meeting and discuss the issue over say two to three days? Pay them the allowances and basi the game is on.
What is grand about these fools?
But YALI put this to bed. That clever chap at YALI (Is called Weweta or something) set the road map which the GRZ has adopted already. What are these fools talking about again?
Kabulwe: well put that Ka ntewewe who broke ranks with this so called Grand Coalition provided a clear roadmap which these guys refused to buy into. They are just making noise without providing alternatives. YALI has the key to the Constitution and all the ECL shud do is to engage YALI more so that the process can come to an end
When will these chiefs accept that change has come? Nobody should hold the country ransom for personal grievances.. Its time everyone realises that nothing lasts forever and if these changes are meant to benefit the majority, so be it. One clause cannot halt such an important project and it is up to the public to decide the way forward through a referendum. If they accept it, the govt has no choice but to adapt it forthwith. A new constitution is not meant to please everyone but to cater for the majority. If such delays are accepted, everybody else will use that loophole to air their grievances and dismantle the whole undertaking. Unless the govt is not serious with it, the project should go on as planned. Chiefs, nothing lasts forever, accept and move on.
It is another ball game now. One wonders where the traditional leadership has been all this time. Now that the coalosion has convised the donors to fund referedum, the government has pushed in a quicky one through the traditional leadership. I thought that close on the ownership of the land was very clear and still stands. The traditional leadership will continue to hold the land on behalf of the President, of course they can not be given obsolute powers for they usually abuse these power. Subjects have always complained and can only be rescued by politicians who are law makers.
It is another ball game now. One wonders where the traditional leadership has been all this time. Now that the coalision has convised the donors to fund referedum, the government has pushed in a quicky one through the traditional leadership. I thought that close on the ownership of the land was very clear and still stands. The traditional leadership will continue to hold the land on behalf of the President, of course they can not be given obsolute powers for they usually abuse these power. Subjects have always complained and can only be rescued by politicians who are law makers.
very dull chiefs, what do you expect when they do not understand what a constitution is.