Members of the Grand Coalition on the Campaign for a People Driven Constitution in Zambia today, 17 th September, 2015 lodged a petition before Minister of Justice, Hon. Ngosa Simbyakula, demanding for an immediate stop to plans to table the Constitutional Bill in Parliament when it assumes sitting tomorrow, 18th September, 2015.
This is according to the statement signed by Grand Coalition Spokesperson McDonald Chipenzi.
The Grand Coalition and its constituents are concerned that the government, has deliberately disregarded the citizens’ views submitted to the Technical Committee on the constitution making process during its consultations at individual, district, provincial and national levels, and trashing all the efforts, time and public resources invested into this process since November 2011.
“We, the signatories below, representing a cross section of citizens from all sectors and all walks of life, write to you to demand that the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through your office, immediately stop your plans to table the Constitutional Bill in Parliament” reads the petition in part.
The petitions submitted today were signed by 1,009 citizens. At the time of the presentation, more signatures from the provinces were on the way to be delivered at the Ministry of Justice and the signature submission to the Ministry will be ongoing
The Grand Coalition petitioners were led by Vice Chairperson Sara Longwe, Spokesperson McDonald Chipenzi, as well as Steering Committee members Guess Nyirenda, Pamela Chisanga, Lewis Mwape and Shadrick Chembe. The submission of the petition was also witnessed by more than 60 students and youth activists, and members of the various coalitions that make the Grand Coalition.
Below is the fill petition:
Grand Coalition petitions Justice Minister to stop plans to table Constitution Amendment Bill
Dear Hon. Ngosa Simbyakula, Minister of Justice,
We, the signatories below, representing a cross section of citizens from all sectors and all walks of life, write to you to demand that the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through your office, immediately stop your plans to table the Constitutional Bill in Parliament We, as representatives of citizens, are concerned that the government, through your office, has deliberately disregarded the citizens’ views submitted to the technical committee on the constitution making process during consultations at individual, district, provincial and national levels, and trashing all the efforts, time and public resources we have invested into this process since November 2011.
The constitution is the supreme law of this land. It is our only tool as citizens for determining the way we would like to be governed, and to hold to account leaders like yourself.
Honourable Minister, the Patriotic Front while campaigning for election in 2011 promised us a NEW CONSTITUTION that “reflects the will and aspirations of the people which would be adopted through a referendum within 90 days, and which could stand the test of time has once more eluded the Zambian people”. This, Honourable Minster is contained in your party manifesto on page 42, Clause 22.
Now 45 months on, we still do not have a new constitution. Instead, you want to amend the constitution leaving out the fundamental issues that give rise to a new constitution. Why is the Government, through your office and at the expense of public interest and in defiance of the people’s will, anxious to take a risky route to enact an amended constitution using your in-built majority representation through parliament?
Please find below some of the people’s demands:
i. We demand that the Constitution Bill should not go to Parliament.
ii. We demand that you immediately present a clear legal framework to protect the constitution making process.
iii. We demand that the government stops tampering with the people’s final draft constitution as released by the Technical Committee that drafted the document.
PLEASE STOP THIS DECEPTIVE PARLIAMENTARY ROUTE TO DELIVERING AN AMENDED CONSTITUTION FOR ZAMBIA.
Sincerely,
Concerned citizens and organizations
And you think they will listen to you? Leave them to their own ways, PF has shown that they will always use deceptive believable lies to the average Zambian so that they seem to be doing the rights for the people. What is see here is that you the grand coalition will be called names like you’re pro opposition, you don’t represent any constituency and that you’re being used by foreign interests. You’re actually going to attract condemnation instead of praise for your stance. You will see from the comments here
Doomed acts of aberationists do not win mass solidarity. In life understanding seasons is critical in any sphere of influence. On this mstter these folks have any missed it. There is time for everything in life. In whose interest and mandate this petition whole circus of petition is being pushed? A call for a referendum under the current national challenges is not for common good but pandering to alien soonsors. Let’s be authentic and masters of own destiny. Giving yourselves big titles does not make you Grand.
On this matter or issue of constitution reform in Zambia, the folks in the so called Grand coalition and their political peers needlessly opposing have lost it flat. MPS are representatives of the people with national constituency while these folks are self appointed candidates of alien interest groups shredding money on them. In no way are they champions of common good other than remaining in the art of scamming unconscious interest Groups in foreign capitals.
Does anybody know or later on understand the bone that these people are holding onto? I do try very hard to see even a shred of validity in their quest , I just don’t see it. For all I know non-contentious issues will be passed through parliament , which is a legal requirement and the legal requirements will go to the referendum to be held along side 2016 elections.
So Ba Grandi Colishoni, what is evil or bad about this? What are we are missing? Do you mean to tell us that we can actually have a new constitution without the involvement of parliament.
Please educate us. We seem to have missed your train. You might have just left us behind. What are the solid alternative to this process so that come 2016 we have 50+1 clause, Provincial assemblies, no more bye elections, fixed…
What are the solid alternative to this process so that come 2016 we have 50+1 clause, Provincial assemblies, no more bye elections, fixed electoral date and of course Dual Citizenship.
STUP!D ANIMALS !
What is wrong with the ANIMAL driven Constitution that we already have?
You dumb animals just go back to your animal farm and live in your animal shelter and stop complaining.
This is what you voted for!
I don’t support this useless petition,I voted for my MP to represent me in parliament so I support my MP Given Lubinda to represent me in parliament full stop not this Grand coalition
@MMD Chief Bootlicker
I agree with you 50+1%.
Why cant these fellows point out specifically the clauses which they suspect the state has tinkered with?
This is what we are all waiting for. What clauses have been tampered with??? Tell us, please.
I don’t trust Zambian MPs, MPs who do it for their bellies, who are easily bought and sold,,,,, they can’t be given such a big responsibility to just spoil it on behalf of Zambians
Just pass this constitution… This is surely the closest we have come to adopting a new constitution… Ati people driven constitution my foot, which people???
Please honourable Minster, just go ahead and TABLE it so mailo in parliament!!
Expecting a politician to give you a constitution that will give and respect the rights of the people is like expecting a thief to manage your accounts meanwhile he is a sole signatory
I have never witnessed this kind of desperation from a small group who think their reputation or relevance is more important than the interests of the country just because they think they have a platform. The so called GC is now trying to inflate itself from GC to ‘Conncerned Citizens’. They can’t even articulate their arguments or say where the Constitution Bill has left out anything from the Draft but are quick to raise an accusing finger. THE CONSTITUTION BILL IS THE SAME AS THE DRAFT. ONCE PARLIAMENT VOTES FOR THE BILL WE WILL HAVE A VALID MODERN CONSTITUTION BUT WITH THE OLD BILL OF RIGHTS. AS REQUIRED BY THE LAW THE NEW BILL OF RIGHTS WILL THEN BE SUBJECTED TO A REFRENDUM IN 2016. Why are you GC fighting the people of Zambia on this important & non-partisan nation issue &…
THE SO-CALL GRAND COALITION IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LOBBY GROUP TO INFLUENCE POLICY MAKING LIKE THE TEA PARTY IS IN THE US.
BUT IN ZAMBIA THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES…..THE CLERGY HEADED BY DAD CHITI, THE UPND SPOKESMAN MCDONALD CHIPENZI MASQUERADING AS GC SPOKESPERSON ETC, THEY ASSUME THE ROLE OF OPPOSITION.
THEY ARE LUCKY THEY ARE DEALING WITH A COOL GENTLEMAN IN ECL!
BA SATA COULD HAVE TOLD THEM TO GO HUNG..
Just look at how many signatures have been collected….1000 out of over 12 000 000 zambians….! Surely, statistically, this can not be a representative sample…! Hon. Min. Plz go ahead…! Shameless opposition…wat are u Afraid of…? Time worsters…!
Comment:the duty of parliament is to enact laws &that wat they are going to do from tomoro .gc are time wasters & representing who
Dear Hon Simbyakula,
Please dont listen to these guys. They do not represent anyone. Who voted them to the positions they hold? these are noise makers who are good for nothing. If they want to continue to chew money for their sponsors, let government not be party to that. We believe in our representatives in parliament and we believe they will do a good job in presiding over this constitution. I do not buy this idea that because parliament has more PF MPs, they will bulldoze the constitution. We voted those MPs to enact laws and we expect them to do exactly that. The Oasis Forum should not be allowed to take over the functions of parliament. So please do not listen to this group of paid Vuvuzelas. We are with you sir. Please show leadership on this issue.
These people are only asking for the PF to deliver EXACTLY WHAT THEY PROMISED!
The draft Constitution was not written by them, it is the product of wide consultation with the People of Zambia.
All they are asking is that it is not CORRUPTED by the selfish interests of politicians, and enacted exactly as the people want it.
Anything else will only be more PF deception and lies!
But has what has been tabled been doctored? If so, which clauses? They are petitioning for the bill not to be tabled because they claim the amendments have been tampered with but they provide no proof of this.
Sounds like a publicity stunt to promote an institution that is becoming less and less popular as people have more sense than to believe their fairy tale stories.
If these Churches and NGO’s have such strong political views they might be well advised our democracy is alive and well. All they need to do is form a party and stand for election, then let the electorate decide if they are right on the issues they raise. They should not use their religious position to publicly influence politics.
Justice Minister please go ahead its under normal legal practice to sent the draft to parliament
The Grand Coalition, or is it Grand Collision!!!… these are totally misplaced individuals who earn more for their bellies the more the constitution making process is delayed. How much has Zambia lost in the constitution making process all due to selfish people like the Grand Collision! There is absolutely nothing wrong with dealing with non-contentious issues at this time, and wait for legal issues during the 2016 elections. Even the USA and EU have seen sense in this route. Remember, MPs were voted in, Grand Collision appointed themselves! Who should be trust between the two? MPs of course!
Just the sound meaning: “The Grand Coalition, or is it Grand Collision?”
No it is the GRAND POLUTION”. These guys? No These GAYS. that’s the meaning. Be careful with the cartel. These gays are part of the cartel and the Catholic Priests…They do all these for their own bellies. Yes, nobody chose them and yet they even paid money for the signatures, In-fact some signatures are signed by one person to the ratio of 1:10aignatures. Let the list come out and I will tell you my four signatures for K120.00, @ K30.00 per signature.
Mr Minister Sir…..Go ahead and table the Bill for the new Constitution… I am abreast with you not behind…GO…GO…GO..GO…