in the August 2016 elections.
THE Ministry of Justice has urged citizens to avoid politicising the Referendum as it is an important national document that concerns the law.
All citizens who have the National Registration Cards will be voting for the Referendum on August 11 this year.
The gazetted Referendum question is: Do you agree to the amendment to the Constitution to enhance the Bill of rights contained in Part III of the Constitution of Zambia and to repeal and replace Article 79 of the Constitution of Zambia?
Ministry of Justice Governance department acting director Davis Chikalanga said the Referendum was not a political document but an important national document and hence it should not be politicised.
Mr Chikalanga said a YES vote on the Referendum was not a YES vote to a political party or political candidate as insinuated by some citizens.
He was speaking in Livingstone today when he featured on Musitunya Radio radio alongside other experts from the Ministry to discuss the Referendum subject.
“Citizens should stop polititicising the Referendum because it is not a political document. Citizen should read the Referendum documents instead of being cheated that a YES vote will favour the ruling party,” Mr Chikalanga said.
He said a Yes Vote to the Referendum Question was aimed at enhancing the Bill of Rights and protecting the rights of citizens.
“In an election, you will be voting for political parties or political candidates while you will be voting for an important national issue in a Referendum,” he said.
Mr Chikalanga also dismissed claims that a YES vote to the Referendum would bring about homosexuality in the country.
Some political stakeholders have been telling their supporters not to participate in the referendum process.
They have argued that they would only participate in the referendum if it was conducted as a stand-alone and not alongside the general elections.
It has been politicised because you have chosen to hold it alongside a very political event…the General elections.
my grandparents don’t read english,but chewa and kaonde,is the question translated in other local languages too?i told them to cross pa manthu chabe,
You all just talk to much!
It’s a political question by PF. By the way, why did Edgar call for a political rally at stadium to sign the unfinished constitution?
The question itself, kutumpa fye.
Just vote: NO.
And we forget about ex-ministers like sleepy Syambikula.
very true #ngolwa it is like coming between two boxers during an active fight and expect not to receive blows.
Mr Davis Chik@la, the referendum, just like the election, is a political event. Politics is how society operates. The referendum decision will affect how Zambia works going forward.
A YES,is a political YES for pf as they are the ones who are trying to dupe us and it can also be used in the rigging,A NO will translate into defeat for lungu.only in zambia were a referendum is held along side general elections,so political.
If its not a political document, what in the hell is it?
Extension of PF hidden agenda?
It is not a joke. The hidden agenda is that the referendum is not only about the Bill of Rights. It also includes entrenching the terms of the President, VP, and ministers. People do not even know what they are voting for.
PF never means well at any level, hence anything they come up with is political
The question is also just wrong. Citizens have no idea what those articles are about. Am sure even the Minister of Justice wouldn’t know what those articles are without referring to the document. A referendum question should be simple. Examples…the Greek referendum, Scottish referendum and latest BREXIT. Questions were straightforward.
Chakolwa knows it will work in his favour.
lungu doesnt have any respect for rule of law so what difference will ir make. Vote NO to show this leaf who is selling a car worth k1.8 million at k70,000 thieves. Ba swine
Some unfortunate comments here spearheaded by mainly the UPND President. My fellow Zambians all you have to do is go to ECZ website & read proposed Bill of Rights & other materials translated in many local languages. Once you have read it you will fail to understand why anyone who wants to lead Zambia will be against this document that speaks to the people’s interests. If anything the results of the referendum will only be known @ the same time as the results of the general election. How can it be political? We need to stop this cult mentality as Zambians. God Bless Zambia
It looks that you do not have slightest idea regarding Article 79!!!
If you do, can you please tell us with what it was going to be replaced???
What Article 79 deals with???
Please, stop blabbing for the sake of partisanship and instead inform yourself about subject!!!
ECZ AND THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AS YOU CALL IT, YOU CAN NOT CALL A REFERENDUM TO BE VOTED FOR WHEN YOU HAVE NOT EXPLAIN TO ALL THE CITIZENS ITS CONTENTS. HOW DO BRING IT IN FRONT OF ME AND SAY YES WITHOUT OPENING WHAT IT CONTAINS? DEFINITELY I WILL SAY NO.
Ngos and grz are everyday explaining the issue on private and public mediums. Zambians living in Zambia understands it. Stop sounding like a dull twart.
@ dull twart above
1. Spell your “twart” correctly!!!
2. Please tell us the content of the “new” Article 79!
3. Please refrain spreading your inbred 1mbecility!!!
What do you expect from the lawless UPNDestruction? Anything to do with the law is deemed political. Politics have beclouded their brain matter to the core. They don’t appreciate human rights and are on a collision course with heavy defeat come 8/11.
Its a political document cuz its designed to control our out of control political animals and ensure citizens rights but at the same time the question is framed in a deliberately confounding manner.
Why put a complicated question in the referendum to citizens who have no idea what the said articles are actually about?
Lozis should vote NO for the referendum because including Article 4 of the constitution to be decided as suggested under Article 79 is completely wrong. Lungu is trying to bring the issue of the Baroste Agreement in this Referendum. It is completely wrong!
Great observation @Socrates. Lungu is trying to cheat the Lozi people by quitly sneaking the matter of Barotse Agreement into this referendum using Article 4. He is being deceitful! Lozis vote NO. The Barotse Agreement needs to be resolved in another way not using deceit!
Anyone that vote for the bill of rights is voting for legalisation of same sex marriages, prostitution and plenty of other nonsense that PF.
The culture of reading by my fellow Zambians is quiet bad and very embarrassing just like the grade 12 clause that most us did’t see until when some individuals where told that there is this clause of having a grade 12 certificate. Its high time we improve reading our culture in order to understand real issues. Not yapping yapping on matters that we do not understand like the 10 points plan. How can someone come up with 10 points plan from currently ruling party agenda already in place.