Parliament on Thursday evening passed the Constitution of Zambia Bill Number 16 and The Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill Number 17 when they came up for second reading after heated debates from both sides of the House.
This was after Speaker Patrick Matibini had called for electronic voting shortly after the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs Chairman Cornelius Mweetwa had presented the Committee reports which called for the withdrawal of the two bills as they did not meet the aspirations of the nation.
Mr Mweetwa said the Committee recommended that bills be withdrawn in its entirety to allow for further consultations and areas that need amendment.
But MMD Chief Whip Reuben Phiri Mtolo said the former ruling party has decided to vote for the bills as it will give Parliament a chance to thoroughly debate the draft constitution.
After the debates, 106 MPs voted in favour of the Bill Number 16 while 36 voted against with 4 abstaining.
109 MPs voted for The Constitution Amendment bill 17 of 2015, 35 voted against while two MPs abstained.
Both bills will be taken at Committee stage next week Thursday.
And Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula has thanked the MPs for the support and said Zambia is now on its way to having a new constitution.
We are about to have a new constitution…yeeeeyyyyyyy… I can imagine the drama when either president Lungu drops to vice or HH ascends to vice. first impression, It will be a comedy of errors. Running mate… THE CASE OF ZIMBABWE AND MALAWI!!!!
People of Zambia, is dual citizenship also part of this?
Thank you
This is a fraudulent amendment exercise capitalising on the ignorance of the majority of Zambians. This is like turning back the clock to square 1. PF ‘s aim is to shoot down all clauses which people wanted included in the constitution in order to remain in power for ever. After shooting down all the new clauses in the constitution then they will say, there is no need to hold a referendum on the constitution because all the new things have been dealt with by parliament. Lungu and his PF are crooked scheming bustards whose aim number is take Zambia back the dark days before multiparty democracy was re introduced.
Who ever believes that PF makes changes for the good of democracy and the people of Zambia is a f00l period. I have on many occasions here said that what ever PF minions say,…
This is actually a first and dodgy step to bring back a one party system, where by the ruling party can de-register an opposition party and coerce opposition MPs to join the ruling party without having their seats nullified.
The amendment will protect people like Siamune and all those who abrogate their party ‘s regulations to dine with the ruling party without facing any consequences. Just imagine what kind of a constitution is this that will promote MP voted by the people on the basis of being members of another party but end up promoting the interest of the ruling party against the ethics and regulations of the party on which they stood on? Is this the democracy Zambians are really looking for? BIG NO. This is a dodgy move to weaken opposition parties and eventually bring back…
1) permit dual citizenship thanks to Tasila as she too needs it; 2) provide for a mixed member proportional representation…….someone simplify this one; 3) provide for political party funding….this should have been removed for it will just be a drain on public resources considering Zambia has more than 30 registered parties! This is paying salaries to one man parties and will funding to parties be equitable?
They have to stop copying the American constitution, it hasn’t worked in Africa. 51+1 will make it impossible for HH, especially with regional voting. Running mate will lead to regional voting, and problems like they had in Malawi (you can’t fire the VP).
Well done our mps for standing with wat the Zambian people want. The minority greedy upnd…hh have been ashamed…!
I wonder which 4 traitor MPs who joined UPND in the senseless Act of trying to shoot the bill down at this stage. They need to be named and shamed. The Justice Minister was very clear that voting today would allow MPs to debate every clause and ALL UPND MPs thought they were voting for the final thing. And their Chief Whip ‘s 30 minutes rant about choosing contentious issues, which was not even an issue, just showed how emotional and dull this Gary Nkombo has chosen to make himself. I thought this guy went to UNZA. What happened?
I was totally impressed with how DR Ngosa Simbyakula took him on and dismantled his rant. Very professionally. That is the difference the PhD in constitutional law makes. If you have the chance to listen to the debate, please do. It was a master class…
If you have the chance to listen to the debate, please do. It was a master class performance from the Justice Minister DR Ngosa Simbyakula, basically taking the emotional Nkombo to school.
Now UPND and your Grand Coalition need to up your game. This is the stage were we need you now to be sharp and focused. As MMD Mps put. We need to make sure that no clauses are taken away or changed by PF and if that happens MMD will hit an eject button on third reading. Work with MMD to ensure that all clauses are included in the final voting and if they are, please vote for them. Forget about your HH and GC. This is about Zambia now . Bill of right will got to the referendum. lets get the first part done. There is a lot of good in the first part.
I think one MMD MP who is so useless and may have gone with UPND is Levy Ngoma. So, UPND did not know that they were voting to allow MPs to debate all Clauses? How embarrassing that must have been when the Minister of Justice schooled our lawmakers!!!! So, when HH was siding with the Grand Coalition – he also did not know what the vote was going to be about? So, sad. Will somebody please upload the live debate?
I guess Lungwangwa is one of them coz he opposed in his debate.
Wooopie! Well done MPS. This is good news for the country. 50%+1 , here we come.
Praise God. UPND should understand that this is a technical knock out for them. They should have supported these bills with approach MMD has used. To only come against it if the contents of the clauses are tempered with. But if PF have presented them as they are in the draft why worry.
The UPND mps have just given PF an out right 50+1% in next years’ polls. There will be no re-run because people will sympathise with PF.
OMG!! SYMPATHY again. Sympathy will cost the country. By the way, why will people sympathise with PF? Educate me.
Its democracy you can imagine if all voted for or against
Zambians you can make your own conclusions. Here PF and MMD have shown that they really want a new constitution but UPND MPs have shown you that they do not care about the constitution after all.
About time O”….lyonse ku bwata bwata fye without substance, a lot more sections of the constitution need to move forward and allow for amendments as requested by the people of Z….
The maturity exhibited by the MPs in supporting the bill shows a level of maturity attained when one has held a leadership post or has been close to the corridors of power. It shows the zeal and tested desire we attain when you mature in politics and believe that the interest of the nation comes before anything else. PF have learnt having behaved badly over the matter themselves before, of-course MMD have been in power before and know the cost of delaying what should be. The UPND management has shown why they need more time, maybe to rise to Vice Presidency through the 50+1,grow through it then form government which actually they will however with time
Another own goal by the upnd. What were they fighting? Strange politics indeed. Well done mmd & pf.
Thank you MPs for representing the people are not special interests and inflated Egos. Viva Jesus, Viva Zambia.
Viva president Nawakwi.
@MMD bootlicker not everyone that goes to UNZA has wisdom.I would rather have wisdom than a PHD!
Bushe this upnd,ninshi kanshi,so to them,being in opposition means opposing everything? Why then have used the new constitution message in your campaigns? Now your desperation has been exposed.
@zamcab,through out the world opposition parties tend to vote against the party in power and they do offer altenative.case in point is usa,democrates vs republicans,unless one comes from swing states then s/he can vote based on what their constitutes wants.as to the subject matter its the right step ,hopefully it will not be tempered with and presidential powers reduced.it will not be perfect but even if its 20%, i welcome it.
Bravo pf and mmd. Togetherness brings development,love,peace etc just like wife and husband u can imagin yo wife opposing everything u do or say can that be a home. Eg my wife i ve got a loan so that we build a house answer bushe tukalalya inganda just know u are hold a bom.differing is normal but not the bitterness pill shown by upnd mps + hh buloshi ubu not normal
This is the beauty of democracy. You debate, argue and vote. The winners take it and losers reflect. That is how parliamentary democracy was designed; no harm to play the devil’s advocate when something is at stake.
And we know where devils end up.
All have lost its not for UPND cry for sons and daughters .
Well Done
Ing’ombe yalalila
Great day for Zambia! Praise be to God, He really wants Zambia to be a shining example to the whole world. MPs who voted for the constitution bill, job well done so far. Much respect to you. You can’t imagine the great foundation you are laying for this God given country especially if you preserver to the end so that we have a brand new constitution with all the clauses in the current bill. What you have done today will always be remembered when the history of this country is being recited to our decedents. God Bless Zambia!
NOW MORE MONEY IS SEEN IN FP AND MMD PARTIES . LETS WAIT AND SEE . DO NOT JUMP AS IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED JESUS YOU SHALL CRY MORE
Upnd MPs are nonsensical. They are hypocrites.
These *****s have been going round telling people to vote for them that they will make a new constitution, now a new constitution is given, they fail to vote for it. Do these guys mean what they say or its cheap politics they are playing? Are these the type of people you want to vote for???? No way, me and my extended family can never vote for Icilema Akainde and upnd. They are unpredictable. Therefore my fellow comrades, you have seen for yourselves the type of people you want to vote for. Reject them again in 2021, let’s try them in 2047…..
@ Clueless Chairman
Do you understand that the resulting vote has opened way to modify every single article of the Draft Constitution?
These upnd chaps always make noise, you may thing they are the majority but when it comes to voting always loses. They must be under a curse. Same applies to 2016 elections same results, they will cry coz we don’t know whom they represent. Maybe the underworld?
UPND are noise makers for nothing. That’s why Oi can not vote for them. I don’t know where they stand. Very dull party it is
Well done ! well done ! Lets hope it all goes well on the committee level too…
I Had the opportunity to listen to the entire debate on this subject matter and it kept me wondering whether some of the “honourables” did actually take time to listen to what the Justice Minister read out in the bill. It was shocking to hear Mps opposing the bill on presumptive premises other than what was read out in the bill. One Mp categorically indicated that they could not support the bill because they did not know what non-contentious clauses will be included for debate this is despite the fact that the Justice Minister had indicated in no uncertain terms in the second reading that it was the whole draft constitution clause that will be tabled to the house for deliberations. So there is the caliber of your Members of Parliament and you decide whether they debating issues on the…
floor or presenting pre-determined positions based on fear and emotions.
NO, UPND ARE NOT SO DULL. HERE WHAT HAPPENED IS THIS. THEY SAW THAT PF IS NOW COMING OUT CLEAN OVER THE ISSUE OF THE CONSTITUTION. AND THAT IN ITSELF IS A BAD OMEN FOR UPND. THESE FOLLOWERS OF HH DO NOT WANT PF TO SUCCEED. SO THEY JUST WANTED TO FRUSTRATE THE PF, SO THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY SAY “AAHA, THESE PF HAVE FAILED “. BUT ZAMBIA IS BIGGER THAN PF OR UPND. GOD WILL HELP US AND THE WINNERS WILL BE ZAMBIANS. IN THE SAME SPIRIT LETS GO AHEAD TO THE THIRD READING SO THAT WE ENACT A NEW CONSTITUTION FINALLY. I CAN SEE UPND FLIP FLOPPING AGAIN AS THEY DID OVER THE ISSUE OF NATIONAL PRAYERS. THEY WILL GIVE ALL SORTS OF EXCUSES TO BE SEEN TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS. GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
NICE GUYS PF & MMD WORK TOGETHER WE NEED A STRONG UNITY TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS CHALLENGE NOT THE KNOW IT ALL BY HH +UPND LUNATIC MPS WHO WHEN TALKING HAS IF THEY RE AT WAR. THEY SHUD HAVE WALKED OUT. SHAME ON YOU THINKING PARLIAMENT CANT PROCEED.WAIT WITH 50 + 1 U ARE DONE & DUSTED. MMD PARTNER WITH PF, NWP,WP,SP PUT YO MPS IN THIS PARTNERSHIP AND COMMAND A FAIR SAY.
Politicians the world over are a scheming bunch. Let’s wait and see what happens next. My opinion is that the next government if it’s not PF will start the process from scratch. Like I always say the level of ignorance and worshipping of politicians who should never be trusted is alarming. Let’s not celebrate surrendering the rights of 14.5 million people to the whims of 150 odd chaps, elected or not.
To be honest patriotic bloggers, the new constitution needs to be dissected article by article. There are some very good and progressive articles that may prove too costly for the national treasury. Here is an example of such provisions:
Articles 57, 72 (9) and (167) do not do away with Parliamentary and Local Government by-elections
Article 60 (4) (a) introduces a Political Party Fund
Article 68 (2) expends the size of Parliament to over 250.
Articles 101 ((3) and 102 (5) introduce a by-election within 37 days in case no presidential candidates more than 50% of the vote or the winning candidate is nullified
Article 116 provides for a Cabinet selected from outside Parliament. Article 117 provides for Provincial Ministers outside Parliament.
Article 118 introduces 11…
The constitution issue did not start with UPND,it started during Chiluba’s MMD.During Mwanawasa’s term the constitution issue was hot.So my fellow Zambians we need to be level headed.The constitution is not for one tribe but the whole Zambia.Its our children who will be affected with what we do now.what happens if UPND wins and mantains the first pass the post and not the 50plus one?It will be you crying again.
Bill of Rights remains, it requires a referendum. Other articles can be dealt with in the manner they have, which is cheaper and quicker. That is PF.
On the other hand, the Opposition say that we can not be enacting a new constitution in piece meals. There’s a chance for some selfish people to do gymnastics and sneak in clauses that disadvantage other interest groups. They want this process to be owned by the people rather than politicians, by way of a Referendum and not parliament which does things on partisan lines.
SO THE DIFFERENCE HAS TO DO WITH PROCESS RATHER THAN CONTENT. THERE IS MISTRUST!
So what is UPND going to do about a running mate? They have two VPs! GBM or Chisanga?? This must be HH’s worst nightmare. Iz can’t be easy being him right now.
Zambia reports says ‘narrowly’, 106 against 36 to Zambia reports amounts to ‘ narrowly ‘ Shame!!!
HH and his blind followers are experts in failure!!these people enjoy being on the losing side!!THE WAY THEY MAKE NOISE ONE WOULD THINK ZAMBIA IS AT WAR AND THEY ARE THE BIGGEST POLITICAL PARTY IN ZAMBIA WHEN IN FACT NOT!!UPND WILL YOU AGREE THAT INDEED YOU ARE A SMALL PARTY DREAMING ABOUT WINNING THE PRESIDENCY?IF PF AND MMD MPS TEAM UP TOGETHER,THAT WOULD MARK END OF UPND!!already in 2016 all seats held by MMD in Eastern,Northern and Luapula will be won by PF!!SO HOW HH DREAM ABOUT WINNING 2016 ELECTIONS IS BEYOND ME!!!EDGAR LUNGU WILL 100% RETAIN POWER IN 2016!!