UPND President Hakainde Hichilema says his party will not support the constitutional amendment bill when it is tabled in Parliament.
Justice Minister Given Lubinda told Parliament on Friday last week that cabinet has approved the roadmap for the constitution amendment process.
Mr. Lubinda said government will spend K2 million on the process and asked stakeholders among them political parties to participate and support the process.
Mr. Hichilema however told a media briefing in Lusaka today that the PF is dodging the dialogue process to reach a consensus in order to manipulate the constitution in parliament.
He said the UPND will not participate in the process if the PF does not want to dialogue to iron out various issues of national interest.
“Parliament cannot represent the interest of all Zambians, the 17 million Zambians must decide what goes in the constitution not parliament which is the child of the people’s constitution”, he added.
Also present at the briefing was National Democratic Congress Consultant Chishimba Kambwili who accused government of wanting to manipulate the document to favor their stay in Power.
“We need to dialogue and agree on what should be contained in the document so that when the document goes to parliament, we don’t waste time debating it”, he said.
And Mr. Kambwili said K2 million is too much tax payers money to use on such a process.
Zambians are too docile to understand the issues at stake. They will just call you bitter while they go like sheep to the slaughter.
Iwe even LAZ has been calling for polishing some parts of the Constitution. Things like giving only 14 days to hear election petition by the concourt can be discussed and polished. Don’t cry again when you are adversely affected in future.
Why is PF taking bills to parliament without stakeholder consultation? The result will be a failed constitutional amendment process again. We need dialogue in this country. Now that the opposition are engaging ICC, spineless people like Mutati are saying let us solve problems in-house but how? When Edgar and PF are using all the tricks in the book to avoid dialogue, led by a the Church as should be in a Christian country!!
Why did ECL rash to sign the constitution, then in less than three years we want a constitutional amendment?
Misfiring in Chief
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Double h you are wrong. There is no room in the constitution that stipulates that some form of dark corner dialogue should table constitutional amends. There is no such thing.
If you enable your MPs to walk our parliament as usual, I believe PF plus independents have got the numbers to do the needful.
A bunch of spoiled brats must not stand in the way of progress.
Ntalu why’s it that you Upnd supporters fail to stick to one thing? Your party was accusing the late Michael Sata of refusing this same constitution. They called it a PEOPLE DRIVEN CONSTITUTION to which he asked them if they knew of an ANIMAL DRIVEN CONSTITUTION. Your leadership continued pestering Lungu over the same thing even though they had not gone through it with the proverbial tooth comb. He signed then you wake up only to find so many gaps. Try for a change to be sincere.
Ba HH But by design and definition Parliament is supposed to be a representative of the people so unfortunately as much as they are not to task we suffer the consequences of them making some decisions on our behalf …. you ought to recognize that even if you dialogue ultimately any amendments will still have to pass through this process of parliament …so just make sure that your MPs debate the amendments and align them to national wishes…. the only Problem ba HH is you want it outside parliament so that u exercise some kind of influence the end product should matter more than the process u want. I have long asked the opposition to withdraw from the dialogue if anyone has followed my advice but Alas! Edgar is now tossing u left right center
What dialogue Mr Delusional Dictator? You stage violence in Sesheke and lie about live ammunition without casualties. Go and dialogue with chief Mukuni and keep writing letters to the ICC. Let’s see if the ICC will vote for you.
It makes sense. If you leave the constitutional amendment in the hands of a PF majority parliament, then expect amendments that will favour PF.
Mukafilekafye every time we will not support this, we will not support that.
Oven had enough of this party, allvtgey do is oppose progress and work to divide the country. They are succeeding in ostracizing the good name of Tonga people. Trouble politics is why KK banned multi party politics and united the whole country under a one party state.
There’s nothing u will ever support u and some UPND supporters. Your followers seriously have to check their heads Mr HH
Parliament is elected to do just that. Only a person that has not served as an MP can think that parliament is not the appropriate place to address such matters. Opposition in Zambia has become like fake churches and Pastors that dupe people into supporting nonsense doctrines that are far from the Word and lead a blind flock of followers based on emotion and intrigue. Very annoying, we will Pray.
Perfect.
His supporters are also unschooled. To them whatever this thing says is gospel truth.
CK is still serving as MP but today on this one, he sounds like his newly found charmer. You wonder who’s influencing the other.
Being led by a blindman. Ain’t his followers “blindier” than him.
let people with no political ambitions iron out the flaws in our constitution and take it straight to parliament for ratification.Be HH or LUNGU wouldnt support the notion to let parliament control govt finances,like what the US system works,because they know that each and every coin will be accounted for.
Just like you opposed the Bill of Rights? What does he expect to come out of the so called dialogue? Unless the churches have told him that they will force a government of national unity…..which is unconstitutional.
Let him do Civics naba grade 9. He seems to be very ignorant about the basics.
Where in the world has a group of political head groupings debated constitutional amendment and instruct parliament to just pass it for signing? Has he usurped the powers of his MPs? No wonder they walk away. Very strange proposal. Weird unconstitutional behavior. Ubukopo bwachila aisha.
One wonders if this so called alliance does understand the rule of law.
“Parliament cannot represent the interests of all Zambians “-says under 5 Kalusa! According to him, his alliance partners who would be participants at the so called dialogue are better suited to represent the people!! Who elected Sean Tembo, Milupi, Lukuku, Andyford Banda and Mulongoti to represent the people? This is now longer funny, someone is getting closer to chainama
He is just misfiring as usual. He does not understand politics. He is a businessman period.
Business what? My foot! Probably just a white collar thief!
Dialogue is long gone through the window mate…Now leka pf abaze..
Sir, what have you ever supported that has been tabled by the ruling party in the interest of Zambians?
Is it not on account of your opposition that we do not have an enhanced Bill of Rights in our constitution?
Haha Did HH really say that parliament cannot represent 17 million Zambians? Who can represent the 17 million people? Or do we need to meet all of us – 17 million people? What will be the venue? I will be there!
Each MP is representing a constituency therefore 150MPs = 150 constituency = 18million constituents. Milpitas + HH = ?
Even GOD ALMIGHTY knows how bitter HH is….
Please keep God out of this..
HH are you are disgrace to our nation.just quit politics and concentrate on your cattle
EVEN GOD ALMIGHTY knows how scared pf is at the mention of being reported to icc let alone losing 2021 general elections.
What hasn’t that thing tried mwebabantu. Boomerang. Back to ICC, them petition, then courts, then parliament, then dialogue.
Back at 1.
ICC, them petition, then courts, then parliament impeachment, then dialogue – ICC, them petition, then courts, then parliament, then dialogue.
He is in an endless loop.
Misfiring.
Look to where solutions are found. Rule of Law. Your answers lay bear in the institutions of Governance. When you waste your time on useless things bam! You realise that Esau Chulu is still head of ECZ. Do you even know what haunts your little souls. Double h is dull. Time wasters.
Yaba trib.al Hacks nayena!! So what is he saying this time? Can’t understand trib.al things, someone explain to me. Jay Gay lazy, please help, I think pyou understand trib.als.
PF was formed to be in Government and in government with their Manifesto.
There are three arms of government;
I thought there are three arms of Government.
Among these arms, I have not seen HH and Kambwili.
CK’s misfiring. Has been a lawmaker?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
“We need to dialogue and agree on what should be contained in the document so that when the document goes to parliament, we don’t waste time debating it”
How can a seasoned law maker such remarks? This is exactly why we sent MPs to the National Assembly. To legislate. Because of the tuma businesses you do outside parliament now you think debating in parliament is a waste of time. No wonder the deads always walk out. Wasted years with upndead MPs.
May Love and Peace prevail of the land. No hate speech.
Love you all
Am a non partisan political consultant
“Parliament cannot represent the interest of all Zambians, the 17 million Zambians must decide what goes in the constitution not parliament which is the child of the people’s constitution”, he added.”
From the most useless opposition leader Zambia has ever had!! Who advises this twit?? Who elected your 10 briefcases to speak for Zambians?? What constitutional or legal standing does your dialogue have??? God save this land because the current opposition can’t be given a mandate to destroy this country!!!
And just to prove this guy is a political m.o.r.on and failure-What are upnd’s numbers in parliament??? Are they enough to stop the PF dominated house from passing a law??? You wonder…..even the bigger f.0.0.ls like CK or Milupi are even their to support him!!!
Major Kachingwe said: “…Treading in such lies by leaders who are vying for higher office is very dangerous, what more if they were given the instruments of power, what greater lies would they tell and how many more lives would be endangered?…”
Only on condition that Lungu sits on dialogue table will reasonable MPs support constitution amendment. If not tje opposition should allow Lungu to fail with that attempt. Minister of Injustice doesn’t know anything.
With what numbers in parliament are you going to do that?? Quick recap: YOU NEED TWO THIRDS TO AMMEMD CONSTITUTION….I trust you will do the arithmetic….
Awe mwandi, wonders never end! HH and his supporters should just forget about him ruling Zambia! The chap is too dull! Parliament is made up of representation of all parts of the republic of Zambia through constituencies! And all the 17 million Zambians are represented though the constituencies! Political Dialogue is an illegal gathering, its not catered for in the Zambian constitution! Minister Lubinda has said all stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the consultation process before amendments are taken to parliament, so what are these dull 2, HH and Kambwili talking about! President Lungu don’t waste time on animal called Dialogue, its time-wasting!
Does it matter even if his party doesn’t participate in the amendment because PF has the numbers it on this Hon Minister of Justice must table it the soonest. We urge the patriotic MPs to the right thing and include very good clauses especially that will ensure some bitter man goes to the grave without stepping on State House grounds.
I guess that is the whole point. PF MPs will all support whatever their party presents. The majority wont even read, the few who will read will not even understand much. Result another unclean constitution with ‘lacunas’. Good luck! Peace & Love.
Especially clause on Intra-party democracy, very important so that it translates into real democratic practices when a political part gets into power! So that time-wasters like HH can be got rid off! For more than 10years chap doesn’t talk about intra-party elections? Meaning given chance to rule he would be dictator! He would be another KK, wamuyayaya!
This trib.al is amazing! So amazing that I can’t comment. Anyway my colleagues have said it all.
All I can advise the trib.al is that no one is trying to write a new constitution. That was done a few years ago. What is required now is to refine it and remove ambiguities. Whether trib.als participate in it or not, we shall vote in the 2021 general elections. He and his trib.als are welcome to boycott the elections, and make themselves extinct.
When I consider trib.al Hacks blatant ignorance, I wonder what his strongholds think, are they equally trib.al or stipud?
2021 i will give a protest vote towards HH, the guy is now useless
Opposition is very important!!!
My heart breed when i read some useless comment. Do not comment on issues when you have limited knowledge. Please read widely. There three goverment
organs. The executive, the legislature which is the pariament and the judiciary. You should know their rules. Not dialogue. Laws are made pariament.
I agree to this constitution amendment process if it is there to help each & every Zambian citizen, not as a basis of party dominance.
Next time, include also articles that bar these so called MPs not to serve more than two terms & hide in the name of being re- elected by people yet they hide in the name of corrupting electorates so that they get back & eat in Parliament without debating any issue for 10/15 years.
2. Also some clauses in the constitution should not allow any one retired from public service given his/ her package to contest as an mp for a simple reason that when are others going to eat as they do be it opposition or ruling party.
Lastly, include also civil servants to contest as MPs especially siding with the party in Power as it used to be.
HH is getting mad by day!!!kkkkkkkk…surely who tells HH that when his useless alliance “tutemba” party leaders dialogue with Edgar Lungu that will mean representing 17 million Zambians?…mawe mawe….HH is a Chainama patient indeed!!!Look mate,your UPND has never supported anything from PF Govnt,so there is no news here.Moreover,UPND has no numbers in parliament to defeat any bill or motion.hence,whether HH likes it or not,the constitution amendment bill will 100% go through in parliament because PF has several MPs.WE ALL THANK CABINET AND PRESIDENT LUNGU FOR TAKING THIS STANCE BECAUSE HH THOUGHT HE CAN USE THE CHURCH TO PUSH FOR REGIME CHANGE IN 2021 VIA FAKE DIALOGUE!!!!Let HH go and report this issue to ICC too or president Trump and see if those will vote for him!or HH can go…
The PF Govnt should include the following articles ;(a)no presidential candidate should be allowed to appear on a ballot paper for more than 3 or 4 times in 2021,(b)parties which promote political violence must be banned,(c)a presidential winner must be sworn in the following day after ECZ announces final results,(d)by elections for councillors,mayors and MPs should be stopped(a party which won that seat during general elections must just put a replacement until next general elections),(e)no presidential petition(losers should just wait for next general elections after 5 years,(f)MPs must just serve for two terms(10yrs),etc!!!
The reference here is to the Constitution, the highest law of the land – you PF dunderheads. It is a fundamental document that requires a higher consensus burden than other laws. You cannot simply amend it willy nilly to the satisfaction of the whims and caprices of the party in power. Amendments to a Constitution cannot be made without a wider participation process. In any case, it is a myth that Parliament always represents the will of the population. That may be, in some societies but not in other circumstances where the populace is ridden rough shod by the party in the majority – taking advantage of their ignorance of process and buying them with rhetoric and short-term appeasements.
PF cadres need to learn to read and understand – these are knee jerk reactions and a self preservation twist of the context in which HH was addressing this issue. He is saying you cannot change a document that stands at the citadel of the society, to which everything else is subordinate and a law that is meant to stand the test of time, as if you were changing a bye-law. Look at the commonwealth of constitutions precedence on this matter without yelling your heads conveniently out of context.
@Njimbu … your rantings are just that. No substance. You even go ahead to suggest amendments to the Constitution according to your own autocratic thinking. Exactly what your PF regime is trying to do, to the exclusion of others.
THE GOVERNMENT GAVE YOU CHANCE TO DIALOGUE, YOU MESSED UP THAT OPPORTUNITY. NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE LEGALLY CONSTITUTED ARM OF GOVERNMENT TO DO WHAT IT IS MEANT TO DO. IT IS THE DUTY OF MPS TO GET SUBMISSIONS FROM THEIR CONSTITUENCIES WHICH THEY CAN THEN TABLE IN PARLIAMENT. THE VOTERS WERE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO CHOOSE WHO SHOULD REPRESENT THEM. IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF PF THAT YOU ONLY GOT FEWER MPS. THE PF HAS SINCE INCREASED ITS REPRESENTATION IN PARLIAMENT….
IF THE PF FAILS TO MAKE THE NUMBERS , THEN THE STATUS CORE CONTINUES – THE CONSTITUTION WHICH STILL FAVOURS THE PF WILL CONTINUE.
IF THE PF MAKES THE NUMBERS, THEN THE CONSTITUTION WILL BE REFINED – AGAIN THIS WILL STILL FAVOUR THE PF.
SO WHICH EVER WAY YOU LOOK AT IT, THE PF REMAINS ADVANTAGED.
SO THE WISEST THING TO DO IS…
-continued-
SO WHICH EVER WAY YOU LOOK AT IT, THE PF REMAINS ADVANTAGED.
SO THE WISEST THING TO DO IS TO GO IN THAT PARLIAMENT AND DEBATE YOUR POINTS. OTHERWISE YOU WILL REMAIN DOOMED.
Too much hate in the comments. HH is entitled to form and communicate his views. No need to hate the man for that.
Just as you are commenting others on this platform have a right to form and express their opinions.
Away do you hate our hh , finishing amuchita bakabwa imwe. Concentrate kuli chakolwa menomeno wenu. Shaa
Did HH just say:“Parliament cannot represent the interest of all Zambians, the 17 million Zambians must decide what goes in the constitution not parliament which is the child of the people’s constitution”.?? Manje why do we have area MPs who go to Parliament? Why do we even have parliament in the first place??
Yes only him and Milupi can represent the 17million Zambians. Why do we elect people? Is it not to represent them? I tell you people if you make a mistake and give power to this megalomaniac you will regret it until the end of his miserable life.
*to represent us *
Next Sunday will be International Children Broadcasting Day and I’m sure Upnd will stop their children from participating.
HH behaves like dog that is trying to smell its own fart. Moving round in circles and then when time for elections has come and loses he says forward. How can someone move forward when they are still in 2016. 2021 is coming fast.
After 2001 elections Levy Mwanawasa saw that of all the parties with parliamentary representation HP was going to be the tricky because their was very advanced in politics. To neutralize the Party he had to appoint all the MPs as either cabinet or deputy ministers.
Yet another reason why HH must lose in 2021.
PF WANT TO AMEND THE REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION TO EXTEND PRESIDENTIAL TERM OF OFFICE TO 7 YEARS AND BAR OPPOSITION LEADERS WHO HAVE CONTESTED ELECTIONS MORE THAN THREE TIMES AND HAVE LOST, SO WHY SHOULD UPND SUPPORT SUCH MISCHIEVOUS maneuver?
jimbu,you say pf is popular in 6.5 yet you want pf to amend the constitution to exclude hh who you claim is on only popular in 3.5 provinces does that make sense and whats your fear.you know deep down your heart that if popular president hakainde is allowed to be on the balot in 2021 what pf pf does will not stop hh winning the elections
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HH SHOULD JUST STEP DOWN AS A PRESIDENT AND STAND AS UN MP IN DUNDUMWEZI MAYBE HE WILL START TO RESPECT PARLAIMENT HE THINKS ALL THOSE IN PARLAIMENT ARE FOOLS , HE WILL DANCE TO HIS OWN TUNE WAIT AND SEE