Government has allayed fears that its planned June Constitution amendments may fail.
The Grand Coalition on the Campaign for the People Driven Constitution has cautioned government to be wary that its next month’s constitution amendments may not be plain sailing owing to the fact ruling Patriotic Front (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.
But Chief government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili has dared those who have such concerns to meet the ruling PF in Parliament.
Mr. Kambwili who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister has told Qfm News by telephone that the ruling PF does have the numbers to meet the 106 threshold required for any legislation to be passed in the House.
He says this is why he thinks that concerns that the June constitution amendments may fail are fears harbored before crossing the bridge.
Asked whether the PF government is not mindful that similar attempts by the previous Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) government failed in Parliament when the required threshold for passing a law could not be met, Mr. Kambwili has said that THIS IS the essence of Democracy.
He says in a democracy if others accept a law to be passed it does get enacted while on other hand if others do not accept it does not get enacted.
The Chief government spokesperson states this is also the essence of Parliament that its members either agree that a law be passed or disagree that the law should not be passed.
Can somebody please tell/explain what is it exactly or what clauses from the proposed constitution is parliament proposing to amend…?
Also what is meant by a two third majority , how many in simple numbers (MPs) term does the government need to pass the proposed amendments??
Thank you my dear Zambia.
This is why I keep saying journalism has gone to the dogs in Zambia, people report on things they don’t understand and can therefore not elaborate. An article so important as this should not only be about quoting Kambwili, but giving insight to to readers – that’s how most of us as high school pupils got so knowledgeable about a lot of things in life beyond our school syllabus…
Kambwili’s reasoning is wrong and very dangerous – especially for a Chief Government Spokesman. Parliamentarians should derive comfort from the strength and progressive nature of the bills they push in parliament, and not merely rely on numbers rather the value that their bills will add to national development or citizens’ quality of life. This is taking voters for granted. This man should be talking about the merits of the proposed amendments…
What majority Zambians do not see is that the Bill of rights will not be part of the items to be taken to parliament. In my humble opinion, I think the Bill of rights is what is more important for ordinary Zambians because when education, health, safe drinking water etc is a right, govt has to provide the education to a child even if the parents can not afford. This will compel govt to do what the people need the most. So, Zambians will have to wait until end of 2016 to receive these benefits in the meantime, govt officials receive free things. Therefore, the govt is not pro-poor.
DOCILE, GULLIBLE ZAMBIANS! YOU GOT WHAT YOU BARGAINED FOR!
I am disappoited with our MPs so you can always support what favours you?
This is the hypocrisy which God does not want.The monies wasted on this constitution would have saved someone some where but we but it to waste like this.
Where is the Catholic Church which was against Mwanawasa and RB today to allow this nonsense?
kambwili can even boost of having numbers to do wrong things when its him and his party which promised a people driven constitution within 90 days not peace meals Zambians?
Never did i know that majority town people are sleeping dogs.
Even if a referendum was to be done today all of you bloggers wouldn’t take part. Constitution involves and affects all of us but non of us is willing to take part in the process apart from hurling insults from the diaspora. No one hears you no matter the size and shape of the insults you hurl. We the people will take part in the referendum for the matters that boarders much on our lives. There’s no rush because victory is guaranteed By taking this route.
If all else fails you can buy a few MPs from the opposition.
Today the capon ‘Kapale’ can boast of two thirds majority in parliament of bought defecters…shame!
we’ve very few honourables the rest are munkombwes, but time will tell.
No matter how long it takes one day we the poor shall have a day, It can only be delayed it cannot be prevented…
Kambwili! You are such an IDI0T! Instead of talking about the merits of the amendments in the constitution, you are busy talking about numbers! All you think about is eating you moron!
PIG FATTENING! – eating at the Taxpayers trough!
PF is just avoiding the issue to get more time to steal what they can.
When are Zambians going to wake up and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!