The Grand Coalition championing for a speedy enactment of a people driven constitution has observed that after perusing through the constitution amendment bill, there are clear inconsistencies between the bill created by government and the final draft constitution created by the people.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka this morning, coalition chairperson Fr. Leonard Chiti has maintained that the proposed enactment of a new constitution for Zambia through parliamentary amendments is treacherous, dishonest and purely an electoral campaign gimmick.
Fr. Chiti noted that as earlier indicated, the parliamentary route cannot be trusted or relied upon to deliver citing that the parliamentary route provides the government with a platform to change the character of the final draft constitution.
Fr. Chiti pointed out that it is more treacherous given that there is no legal framework to protect both the process and content adding that it is their mission to protect the contents of the final draft constitution and any proposed strategy that jeopardizes the content disrespects the interests of the people of Zambia.
He said that the fact that government has been buying time all along is a sign of lack of total commitment to the process adding that the PF has remained dishonest and inconsistent as shown by their failure to adhere to their own manifesto.
The coalition has further challenged government to state clearly whether the content of the final draft constitution has not been manipulated and will not be manipulated further in parliament stressing that that the people would also like to know what will happen if the proposed amendment process collapses in parliament.
What are the inconsistencies? Surely, Fr. Chiti should give examples. One can not issue such an alarming statement and not support it.
Where did the Grand Coalition get the mandate to represent the people they claim to represent when they never stood for any electi ons? The person who they entered into a contract with over the constitution is HH and not EL,and as such they should wait for HH to become president so that he can honour what they had agreed on. As far as am concerned I gave the mandate to Edgar and the PF to represent me at both presidential and parliament level……and so far so good.
@ change
It looks like Grand Coalition got the mandate at the same venue where PF promised to “deliver” (lol) “People” driven Constitution in 90 days.
@ MyZambia
Most probably Fr. Chity is referring to arbitrary and biased PF proportioning of the provisions in to “non-contentious” and “contentious” issues.
‘There are clear inconsistencies between the bill created by government and the final draft constitution created by the people.’
Can we see these inconsistencies please?
GIVE US EXAMPLES OF INCONSISTENCIES IWE CHI FATHER
@ Alinaswe
Why treating Chapter related to “Fundamental Rights” as “contentious issue”? Without those provisions, what is the point of Parliament approval?
Comment:
You cross the bridge when you reach it, I we Chiti, the politician.
@ Chitutuma
And what if the bridge is no more there?
Occasionally it pays to use brain for thinking instead of middle leg.
‘A bad leader is one who changes the rules in the middle of the game just to cling to the office’
Iwe father!! If you don’t trust parliamentary, y do you then support democracy or campaign on behalf of your party to have people turn out in masses to elect MPs (who end up as law makers of our land).
Chi father naiwe you are just too full of in-consistences and I honestly don’t know why you are waiting til 2016 to declare that you a party cadre of …. and want to be an MP, and hence join the same folks you are saying you don’t trust. Please God come soonest and sort these people out!
You are right Mr. Soko. Fr. Chiti has deceived Nation for past four years by promising “animal” driven constitution in “90 days”, it is his fault that borrowed Billions and Trillions ended up in overseas bank accounts of opposition cadres, it is his fault that President does not have balls to address Nation, it is his fault that 1mbeciles like you are allowed to comment…………………
This so-called grand-coalition don’t represent the views of the people but the views of foreign interests!! Father Chiti is on record saying that we have to amend the preamble of the constitution by removing the Christian Nation clause. And as far as I know, we have nations that are religious attached. The grand coalition is evil. I voted for PF and Edgar and I gave them the mandate to rule until 2016, therefore, I can boldly declare that Grand Coalition don’t represent my view nor that or my family because we all voted for PF. Besides that the entire grand coalition signed a social contract with HH and not Lungu, so why are they making noise!!
Fr. Chiti you’re no different from Frank Bwalya, from being a clergy to politician. Just declare your intentions publicly like your fellow…
@ Chingolan Buju from Nchanga
and whom do you represent? Millions of hungry and destitute? Please, refrain from crapping in public
Go back to the pulpit iwe father something, your flock needs you there and not in the political arena. Tapali efyo mulechita
Lets respect the Priest as a servant of God, he is representing the people in the area he feels called by God. Its not always the pulpit but speaking for the voiceless. Lets not lose our culture of respecting elders and the servants of God.
He is dull, even after referendum it is MPS that will vote and make the final choice of what becomes law.
Fellow bloggers, let us not be driven by emotions to condemn the priest. Although he did not specify, any clearly undefined part of the constitution stands at risk. Parliament will have the priviledge to interprete it according to it’s wish. The role of the public ends immediately it is passed. Parliament enjoys the tyranny of numbers to manipulate the constitution. For the public to repeal just one disatisfying clause, it takes the public to collect signatures countrywide and then call a referundum. Imagine the cost. Here in Kenya it requires 1 million signatures. Though Father Chiti is not specific, lend him your ears or else you will realise what he meant when it is too late. Lets not reason myopically. We have encountered similar challenges here.
The Grand Coalition championing for a speedy enactment of a people driven constitution has observed that after perusing through the constitution amendment bill, there are clear inconsistencies between the bill created by government and the final draft constitution created by the people.
Please be specific, father you are now beginning to sound like your sponsor HH
Father Chiti is not a serious man. if he is serious then we have reasons to doubt him. he has said that there inconsistencies between the draft and the final constitution without any mention of them. and then he says as below.
“The coalition has further challenged government to state clearly whether the content of the final draft constitution has not been manipulated and will not be manipulated further in parliament stressing that that the people would also like to know what will happen if the proposed amendment process collapses in parliament”
this is being crooked. this man wants to create doubt in the process of parliament. he wants the referendum where there will be mass voting without questioning the contents of the document so that the ‘minority rights clause’ which…
PARLIAMENT are the people.
UK has no people driven constitution. It has animal driven values
Fr Chiti, is your criticism to assist GRZ correct something you have noted or is it bogus? I have looked both the draft and the bill and the only change I have noticed is the numbering & the Bill of Rights which will go for referendum. Fr, this process is not a game but an important national undertaking. Please stop playing with the future of this country. Your objectives might be short term & simply to make PF look bad but the country is more important than PF, UPND, NAREP, or any political party. If you are serious about maintaining the content of the Bill you would be lobbying MPs & organizing Zambians from all walks of life to assemble @ Parliament for picketing to ensure that MPs only come out after they have passed the Bill without amendments into our new Constitution.
Let us believe Father Chiti’s statement; we have been short-changed before by Kaunda,Chiluba,Mwanawasa,Banda and Sata.If we had good presidents in the past we would have had a people-driven constitution by now.
I stand firm on my principle regardless of political party I support or not support .What do I mean a constitution is the supreme law of the land and no one should above the constitution. This being the case all people not only the parliamentarians should participate. Looking at its importance no amount of money should stop us from going to a referendum. The parliament and president yes will have a final say but after we have spoken (All Zambians)this is the correct route. Any one using any short cut will cry when a dictator takes over as president of Zambia. We don’t leave because of good will but on facts that are protected by law. Kabimba when he was in PF thought he was safe ,so he never supported the constitution change, but today he is crying. My Zambians PF will not last for ever…
The sad outcomes from a Jesuit Priest, apparently Jesuits are the most educated group of priests and value education very much Recall Fr. Peter Herriot (he wound open his month without carefully assessing his statement! For once Fr. Chiti tell the truth, last you become like Fr. Bwalya (who has lowered himself to a mere PF Cadre.) Its more honorable, respectable grace filled to be on the Pulpit than play politics with your flock! Ba Fr. Chiti were are the inconsistencies!
Fr. Chiti please provide the so called inconsistencies so that we can walk the talk gather. Other than that you will be a ”liability type of supporter” like GBM.
i do agree with bloggers who have inquired of proof of inconsistences,but the comments of who the father represent is the main reason zambia is in reverse gear,who did martin lurther jr,jesus christ,moses, and many non political figures who questioned politicians and where these figures on the wrong side of history.we african americans are enjoying the fruit of these pipo.so dont be on the long side of history.