Former FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi says Zambians must be wary of letting ruling politicians trigger the refinement of the Constitution.
Mr Chipenzi said past experiences has taught Zambians that Executive driven processes have been prone to and characterized with manipulation and dishonest.
He said the public and stakeholders must be vigilant over the proposed re-visitation of the constitution making process.
He explained that the “devil” of the proposed refinement maybe hidden in the details of the proposed amendments and that if not properly monitored politicians may end up disadvantaging Zambians with the amended document.
“Citizens and stakeholders must be vigilant over the proposed re-visitation of the constitution making process being spearheaded by President Edgar Lungu and his Minister of Justice, Given Lubinda. This is so because the devil of the proposed refinement to the constitution may be hidden in the details of the proposed constitutional amendments.
“Zambians must be wary of letting ruling politicians trigger constitution making processes as the past has taught us that such executive driven processes have been prone to and characterized with manipulation and dishonest.
“It should have dawned in the minds of politicians by now that they rushed and manipulated the constitution for political and electoral reasons hence their resolve to try and fix their manipulations. So, if not closely tracked and monitored properly, they will do it to their advantage,” he said.
He further said the public should realize that constitutional triggers initiated by politicians, especially those in power, are shrouded in political trickery and should be treated with a lot of caution and vigilance by citizens.
He cautioned the public to lookout for any hidden agenda as the restarting of the process may not be what meets the eye.
“The reasons behind the restarting of the constitution making process may not be what meets the eye but hidden in a façade of deceit and insincerity meant to entrench political power and disadvantage citizens,” he said.
He also said the Civil Society and other stakeholders must demand for a look at the document as well as add an input to it.
“To this end, I proposed that before the Constitutional Amendment Bill is tabled before the National Assembly, civil society and other stakeholders must demand to have a look and an input to it.
“Otherwise the ruling elites may want to push clauses that may even stop them from paying back the money gotten illegally during their illegal stay in power as it being demonstrated now by the acFormer FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi says Zambians must be wary of letting ruling politicians trigger the refinement of the Constitution.
Mr Chipenzi said past experiences has taught Zambians that Executive driven processes have been prone to and characterized with manipulation and dishonest.
He said the public and stakeholders must be vigilant over the proposed re-visitation of the constitution making process.
He explained that the “devil” of the proposed refinement maybe hidden in the details of the proposed amendments and that if not properly monitored politicians may end up disadvantaging Zambians with the amended document.
“Citizens and stakeholders must be vigilant over the proposed re-visitation of the constitution making process being spearheaded by President Edgar Lungu and his Minister of Justice, Given Lubinda. This is so because the devil of the proposed refinement to the constitution may be hidden in the details of the proposed constitutional amendments.
“Zambians must be wary of letting ruling politicians trigger constitution making processes as the past has taught us that such executive driven processes have been prone to and characterized with manipulation and dishonest.
“It should have dawned in the minds of politicians by now that they rushed and manipulated the constitution for political and electoral reasons hence their resolve to try and fix their manipulations. So, if not closely tracked and monitored properly, they will do it to their advantage,” he said.
He further said the public should realize that constitutional triggers initiated by politicians, especially those in power, are shrouded in political trickery and should be treated with a lot of caution and vigilance by citizens.
He cautioned the public to lookout for any hidden agenda as the restarting of the process may not be what meets the eye.
“The reasons behind the restarting of the constitution making process may not be what meets the eye but hidden in a façade of deceit and insincerity meant to entrench political power and disadvantage citizens,” he said.
He also said the Civil Society and other stakeholders must demand for a look at the document as well as add an input to it.
“To this end, I proposed that before the Constitutional Amendment Bill is tabled before the National Assembly, civil society and other stakeholders must demand to have a look and an input to it.
“Otherwise the ruling elites may want to push clauses that may even stop them from paying back the money gotten illegally during their illegal stay in power as it being demonstrated now by the actions of the Attorney General, Likando Kalaluka, to challenge the finality of the constitutional Court judgement that ordered them to pay back the money,” he said.
He added “Further, these ruling Elites may even try to entrench clauses inimical to democratic tenets the way they had tried to do on the failed referendum on the Expanded Bill of Rights.
“It is in this regard, that once a thorough re-check of the constitution is done, immediate electoral reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in the Electoral Process are undertaken in readiness for the subsequent by-elections and the 2021 General Elections.
“Properly done electoral reforms may help rebuild electoral confidence lost after the 2016 General Elections.”tions of the Attorney General, Likando Kalaluka, to challenge the finality of the constitutional Court judgement that ordered them to pay back the money,” he said.
He added “Further, these ruling Elites may even try to entrench clauses inimical to democratic tenets the way they had tried to do on the failed referendum on the Expanded Bill of Rights.
“It is in this regard, that once a thorough re-check of the constitution is done, immediate electoral reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in the Electoral Process are undertaken in readiness for the subsequent by-elections and the 2021 General Elections.
“Properly done electoral reforms may help rebuild electoral confidence lost after the 2016 General Elections.”
What a joke.
Hichilema and Bwalya are now becoming desperate in their attempt to sound like they are the honorable elected members of the Presidency. They are using the human rights act and claiming that they were robbed of the election and mistreated in showing compassion towards incarcerated prisoners….what a fallacy!!!. They are politicians and should fight the game in the courts if they are not happy. For them to go around the country and say they do not recognise the presidency is unfortunate. The Presidency is bigger than any one person, its an institution in its own right and for these to *****s to go around the country in the manner they are doing, is a clear indication of trying to incite people into rioting and lawlessness. I have no doubt that Hichilema thinks he’s above all zambians and…
Zambians are docile & PF cadres are dic.k riders. Just check the article on AG’s report. No PF cadres criticising government. They just dic.k dic.k dic.k ride all the way
Lungu will be richer than HH by 2021.
THIS IS A VERY GOOD ARTICLE AND WE AS ZAMBIANS MUST BE ALERT AS WE WILL BE SIGNING OUR OWN DEATH WARRANTS.
Zambians are too docile. They will not listen to wise counsel. Watch.
This is simple.ECL is looking for a way to secure a THIRD TERM. This was the essence of the failed referendum. He wqnts to use his numbers in parliament to do it.
Lungu’s third term is already guaranteed by the current Constitution. He is looking for a fourth term or even a life Presidency. He wants Ministers to be able to continue even after Parliament is dissolved. He wants Deputy Ministers back so that there’s more largesse for him to dish out. He wants to redefine 14 days is 14 days so that no presidential petition will ever happen in the mediocre future of Zambia.
We need to stop madness, we need to revisit the constitution done by KK. It is the only way to stop insanity. The other way to do it is to send them to Chainama.
But you think people have time to look at any document? Past experience is that people will just be interested in getting allowances. Even the current situation was created by people either not reading the minute details or simply boycotting Parliament during debate of the consititution.