The Grand Coalition on the Campaign for the People Driven Constitution has cautioned government to be wary that its planned June constitution amendments may not be plain sailing.
The Grand Coalition has based its predication on the fact that the ruling PF does not enjoy a two third majority in Parliament where non contentious issues of the final draft constitution have been scheduled to be tabled next month.
Coalition chairperson Leonard Chiti has told Qfm News that despite that having the support of some MMD and UPND Members of Parliament, his Coalition thinks that there is no guarantee that government will meet the 106 threshold for passing any legislation in the House.
Father Chiti states that this means that there is a risk that government’s idea of making partial amendments can be sabotaged.
He says there is already a precedent set under the previous MMD government when the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) adopted draft constitution could not enacted into law in Parliament due to failure to meet the required two third majority votes.
Asked whether time is now ripe for the Grand Coalition to execute its undisclosed action plan to stop government from attempting next month’s constitution amendments, Father Chiti has declined to comment.
He says this is because government through the Minister of Justice Ngosa Simbyakula has shown willingness to have another meeting with the Grand Coalition before Parliament resumes its sitting next month.
The Grand Coalition chairperson who has described the meeting which his Coalition and Dr. Simbyakula had yesterday Friday the 15th of May as good, states that his Coalition does not want to jeopardize the opportunity to meet the Minister again.
He says the Coalition is particularly pleased that the Justice Minister was magnanimous enough to meet it in short notice
What r u sayin iwe ka chiti? Ine I hav no respect nor love for thiz pipo who use God’s name in vein,same thin wit bwalya
WHY SHOULD THE OPPOSITION MPs BE EXPECTED TO OPPOSE SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS THE ENTIRE NATION? THEN WHY ARE THEY THERE IF ITS NOT TO MAKE GRZ MAKE DECISIONS THAT BENEFITS ALL ZAMBIANS. THIS IS THE ONLY GRZ THAT HAS COME SO CLOSE TO ENACTING THE CONSTITUTION THAT HAS BEEN IN WAIT FOR PAST 20 YEARS. WHY OPPOSE SUCH A MOVE????
Referendum is the only legitimate and civilized way on amending or enacting a people driven constitution.
Faza Chiti if you instructed your priests to urge the parishioners to vote for your Bemba party, maybe just maybe, the PFoolish ones may get the majority you wish for.
I hope what Fr you said will save the pipo of Zambia.
Bafather learn to be a peace maker. you know that Zambia is borrowing almost every thing so lets go for a cheaper thing. why shouldnt other mps suport if amendments are in line with what zambians want?
Watch the pace!!soon this father Chiti will be speaking same language over the new constitution with our PF leaders leaving tribal HH alone.THE BEST QUALITY OF ECL’S PRESIDENCY IS “ACCOMMODATING VIEWS OF ALL WELL MEANING ZAMBIANS”!!!ECL is a listening president who never does things a lone.THE OPPOSITION WILL FIND IT VERY HARD DEFEATING ECL IN 2016!!!THE MAN IS VERY SMART AND ITS TRUE LAWYERS MAKE GOOD PRESIDENTS!!!
Enjoy your salary while it lasts and carry on boot licking because come 2016 either UPND or FDD OR Rainbow will be in power, you will not have a chance to rig this time
The most confusing thing about this opposition to the New Constitution is its very basis. We have a draft which we should all read. We have all had an opportunity to contribute to it the past 20 years.
Government is prepared to support a law that protects its content as known by all. This is the content that will be presented before Parliament except the Bill of Rights and, so Government says, the contentious clauses.
It is probably the first time a Government has been so sincere in this Constitution process for a long time. The draft is a good Constitution that could transform this country for the better. Even if we have 90% of it enacted through Parliament there shouldn’t be anything wrong with that. Why do we always find a reason to deny ourselves good things including…
i wonder why too. anything good that we all can benefit from has to always be shot down
I thought the people driven constitution is for all Zambian and not a particular party. And if so what is the problem with father Chiti?
Is he there to just oppose and make his position relevant or some hidden agenda.
Being an opposition Party does not mean against but rather common sense.
Why should non-contentious issues become a problem to enact suddenly? I do not see the entire parliament opposing presidential running mate clause, 50%+1vote clause. Why is the so called Grand Coalition paranoid all of a sudden. Two thirds is easy to obtain over non-contentious clauses…isn’t that why they are called “non-contentious”?