The Grand Coalition on the Campaign for a People-Driven Constitution is calling on all Members of Parliament to respect the aspirations of the people of Zambia by upholding the contents of the final draft constitution as contained in the Constitution Amendment Bill which is set to be read for the third time this week.
The GC reiterates that that final draft constitution contains the interests and aspirations of the people of Zambia, therefore debating it in Parliament and removing some of the provisions is not acceptable.
We hope that our MPs will truthfully represent the people and protect their interests as represented in the contents of the final draft constitution. Failure to do so will amount to ushering in a new constitution reform commission as Zambian people will still be looking for a constitution that meets their aspirations.
This re-starting of the process of constitutional reform shall indeed gobble up once more the meagre national resources meant for national development for the wellbeing of all Zambians. We cannot afford to be moving in circles and wasting a lot of resources and time. MPs should stand up for Zambia’s general interest and not their partisan interests! The people are watching.
Issued By:
Fr. Leonard Chiti
Chairperson – Grand Coalition on the Campaign for a People Drive Constitution
what are these so called ‘aspirations of the people’? isnt this the same book you people produced after the NCC? What is it that the so called people wnat that is not found in the current draft?
i sense defeat in the statement…lone wolf barking for survival now
It is amazing that in the 21st Century we still think government knows best what the people want. We are all afraid of change, that is what this whole debacle is all about. Aspirations of the people have been expressed for ages but for some strange reason custodians have decided they will always sit and get paid to deliberate on the same things. Appalling!
What’s disheartening is most people don’t understand what’s going on in parliament now. Its not adopting (or enacting) a new constitution but setting up a legal framework for parley to debate the so called non contentious issues. You will remember Fr Leonard when most of these issues are thrown out. Then it will be too late. A lone voice indeed!
Comment: Fr Chiti, which people are you representing? No Zambian is complaining otherwise there could have been peaceful demonstration. In this case its just you and your Upnd.
GCC, that is the advocacy you should have started from the beginning. There was need for you to be awkward & suggest the unreasonable refrendum route when there is sufficient political will. The Constitution Bill does indeed represent the aspirations of the people of Zambia compiled over 50 years. MPs have a duty, as people’s representatives to enact the Bill without any amendments as we the people of Zambia have already spoken through draft which was thankfully converted in to the Bill without amendment. I’m 100% with GCC on this new dimension you have taken. Let the MPs who care more about the future of this country than party interests protect people’s document & not allow any amendments except those which promote the current Bill. God Bless Zambia.
Correction… Meant to say “there was NO need for you to be awkward…”
It IS SIMPLE bane – government( executive) Brot the bill to parliament( the People’s representatives ), no Elaboration as Gen Miyanda rightly observes – zilch!! We the People WANT this Thing in toto as it were I.E. REFERENDUM, fulustop !!