The Medical Association of Zambia (MAZ) has expressed concern with Article 15 of the Bill of Human Rights embedded in the new amendment clause constitution.
Speaking at a one-day workshop held at Hollywood II Lodge in Mongu District, Medical Association of Zambia President, Aaron Munjanjati, said the article contains clauses such as the right to life which begins at conception.
Dr Munjanjati feared that Article 15 clauses 1 and 2 of the draft constitution awaiting the referendum on August 11, 2016, would increase maternal mortality rate in Zambia if voted for.
He noted that such rights would be working against medical practitioners of taking legal abortive action on the pregnant woman if need arose as that would be considered as depriving the right to the life of unborn babies.
He observed that countries that have adopted such similar Bills of Human Rights have exacerbated and increased the death rate among productive women.
Dr Munjanjati disclosed that doctors sometimes are compelled to take legal abortive actions against a pregnant woman upon seeing that the life of the expectant mother is at stake.
Meanwhile, MAZ Deputy President, Abidan Chansa, pointed out that the clause, once approved, would impend the work of medical experts, adding that many women would be dying from maternal health complications that could be avoided.
Dr Chansa regretted that such life-saving matters should not be left to debate by fundamental religionists but should be done by all pro-life Zambian citizens.
Zambia will on August 11, 2016, go to the polls for general elections and the referendum.
In another development, Dr Munjanjati disclosed that the Medical Association of Zambia, working with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) will for the first time deploy medical personal to attend to violence victims on the poll day.
Dr Munjanjati further said doctors will be sent to all the 105 districts of the country.
MAZ, I can only hope you were misquoted in this news item. If not you needed a legal expert to facilitate @ your workshop to assist you understand how proposed Article 15 in enhanced Bill of Rights will operate. It does not operate in a vacuum and it is expected that further exceptions can be made through another statute like your very own Medical & Allied etc. Act. Don’t be too quick to demonise something which is intended for greater good. There will always be exceptions and limitations and these can be prescribed as anticipated. God Bless Zambia
now who decides whose life is important here? the unborn child or the mothers.
for i would say its like ba chosen you have not understood what MAZ is trying to say. Learn to understand
FOOOLISH CHOSEN…VIVA HH 2016
Iwe wanama- you are lying. Don’t you know that the constitution is above all other statutes. No statute will give exceptions to what the constitution says. It is supreme and always overrule the other statutes.
The Chosen One,
Thank you. The Doctor, in his haste has just blown open his camouflage, begged a question to the answer he is volunteering, and betrayed his private battle with people of faith.
The scientist has metamorphosed to be subjective.
Beware of personal hidden agendas in public affairs.
What is so urgent about this referendum? Why can’t we postpone this referendum? They tell lies that holding it separately would be costly but money is not a problem when it comes to increasing salaries for chiefs and politicians.
Great my man. what is so urgent indeed? Its all about selfishness. But this foolish government should not cheat anyone. Why was ECL during his rally at heroes stadium told people just to vote YES on referendum? All that is a sign of desperation, now Zambians are cleaver i dont think people can buy such cheap politics from him. come 11 August he will see.
Bad reading culture even among doctors – yaaba!
Surely you can’t read the whole Article, including exceptions, to gain full understanding of the same? Awe sure!
VIVA HH 2016
Mayo Mpapa, am sure you meant bad understanding and not reading culture. Do you have an idea what these guys go through in terms of volumes of books for them to be certified as qualified medical doctors?
Please choose better words.
@The Dude, “bad understanding” is an immediate product of a bad reading culture; if you haven’t fully read something you won’t gain required understanding. What the doctors have displayed is skim-through reading and then rushing to the press soon after.
It is not up to a medical practitioner to decide which life to save and which one to forego, it is legal process that should a medical practitioner to do so after carefully balancing the rights. Professionals should bot be allowed to abuse their profession to an extent of deciding who should live or who should die. Are are they rushing at defending their right to terminate pregnancies? It seems their source of dirty money threatened.
Even our doctors are also illiterate! The doctor’s argument is like, if you reduce the speed limit on the roads, more people will be caught overspeeding! So, increase the speed limit and there will be fewer offenders.
Thanks be to God, we are gradually becoming a pro-life and practically true Christian Nation. Vote YES!
Christian nation?
MR MUNJANJANTI!!!!!!What is IUFD When thre is no life