Commenting on the launch of the publication for partnership guidelines by Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibin on Monday, SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe said the guidelines was a missing link between the two partners saying the legislative wing of government has now officially recognised CSOs as partners.
Cheembe expressed opportunism that the guidelines will help smoothen the follow of information between the National Assembly and the CSOs.
“As SACCORD we welcome and congratulate the national assembly of zambia for finally publishing the guidelines for partnership between the National Assembly and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
“The publication which in our view is a milestone for the Legislative arm of our government is something that is the first of its kind and officially speaks to the recognised partnership between the national assembly of Zambia and csos and clearly this has been the missing link were the partnership of the two stakeholders are concerned. That being the case and going forward as saccord we expect that we shell be able to see much more information between the two stakeholders,” Cheembe said.
He added “We also hope and expect that the guidlines will assist in helping Parliament bring close to the people by ensuring that various Bills that are being discussed or debated for example in parliament will also be undertaken at a local level so that the people in various parts of the country through the constituency offices. We hope people will be able to recieve information about the Bills and make inputs at the lowest level and that inputs will forwarded to Lusaka and ultimately ensure that there is greater participation of citizens from all over the country.
“We happy happy the guidlines have been launched and believe that they will help bring parpliament closer to the people and also open parliament as we endeavour to ensure that there is greater participation of our citizens in the docracy and governance affaires of their country.”
As parliamentarians are voted by Zambians, CSOs must publicly reveal their funders (the funders political inclinations and agenda), who selects and constitutes the CSO controlling boards. That way, transparency will be there for all to see.