The United Party for National Development (UPND) does not support the Constitution-making process because it does not help Mr. Hichilema, the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has charged.
Speaking at Alitasha Lodge during a media briefing in Kasama, YALI President Andrew Ntewewe said YALI is not surprised by the UPND to frustrate the reform process because there has never been a time the UPND have supported such a process as long as it does not give Mr. Hakainde Hichilema an easy leeway to step into power.
Mr. Ntewewe has said the Constitution of Zambia does not belong to the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) nor the UPND but belongs to residents who live in different parts of Luapula, Northern, Copperbelt and the entire country who have said they want to see this Bill thoroughly debated by their representatives in Parliament.
“MPs are the only legitimate representatives of the people and not these forum of NGOs or Council of NGO who speak for their sponsors. Article 62 clause 2 of the Constitution which states that ‘the legislative authority of the Republic is vested in and exercised by Parliament,’” said Ntewewe
Mr. Ntewewe said the only form of dialogue is Parliament as a place where divergent views and ideas will converge for purposes of consensus building. He said the people’s legitimate representatives will ultimately decide and those who do not want to support this process are enemies of democracy and anarchists.
And in responding to the rejection by LAZ to participate in the parliamentary process, Mr. Ntewewe reminded the lawyers that Zambian have given the National Assembly unfettered powers and exclusive rights to alter the Constitution of Zambia which include the power to amend, modify any provision of our constitution and re-enact the Constitution with or without amendment or modification.
“Our MPs can also suspend or repeal provision of the Constitution by making different provision in place of such provisions. The power of Parliament over our Constitution is extensive to include adding new provisions to the Zambian Constitution. Parliament does not need LAZ or a few loudmouths who have continued to boycott from being consulted to perform its function to alter the Constitution,” said Ntewewe.
He said while LAZ and its new allies seem to be arguing about the process to amend the constitution based on the history of other processes in countries like India, Canada and South Africa, the Zambian courts have categorically that ‘the history of the Constitutions of Zambia from 1964 to date is different from that of the Indian formula which specifically provides for a Constituent Assembly and that the powers, jurisdiction and competence of Parliament to alter the Constitution of Zambia are extensive provided that it adheres to the provisions of Article 79.
“The democracy we have chosen as a country demands that all voices have must be heard on the constitution reform process and there is no any single voice which is superior to the other. We remind Mr. Hichilema that the Constitution of Zambia is bigger than Mr. Hichilema, his egoistic interests and his insatiable lust for power,” he said.
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That could be the obvious reason.
But the Constitution should not work to favour one individual or a group of individuals.The Constitution is blind to political parties or individuals.
For double h to rule, he must convince 50%+1 of the Zambia’s eligible voters. Not a handful or fingertip full of tribally charged characters.
Ntewewe has nailed it once again. Please go tell it on the mountain to all Zambians who care.
Bill no.10 must roll.
Bitterness being exhibited by this Ntewewe fella is uncalled for. Looks like he is trying too hard to please his pay masters. Is it difficult for him to understand that people are expected to in have different views in a democracy.
Who is funding creco? Looks like MISA does not want to come out in open they are funding these activitie.
Most UPND MPs from Southern Province depend on HH goodwill for adoption. So if he says go and pee on floor of Parliament, they will pee, go and walk out, they walkout, go and dance in Parliament, they will dance. No wonder most who absconded are those from Southern Province. They have no mind of their own!
HH and UPND doesn’t support Amendment Bill No.10 becoz the Bill is Illegal and unconstitutional. Zambia is a Constitutional Democracy and any Bill which breaches the Zambian Constitution is unacceptable. HH, UPND, Churches etc are Friends of Democracy while PF and it’s Cadres are Enemies of Democracy.
Do you “learned” !1mbecile understand implications of “as prescribed” in multiple Articles?
YALI is on 2021 campaign trail for lungu. Hh must up the game or dont cry in 2021
No comment
Ninshi zangena?
It’s unfortunate double H has never been a ward councilor or MP to appreciate the Constitution making process. He is a self imposed leader who does not even want to go for a conversion to taste his popularity. Nkombo, Mwimbu and Mweetwa, you have failed to convince double H to convene a meeting for conversion apart from hurling insults on ECL who was democratically elected. The lust for power will kill double h. Double h is even visiting kambwili who has continually insulted the legitimate and democratically elected president. Insulting the president is as good as insulting the people who elected Edgar.
Formation of CRESCO meant to kickstart PF 2021 campaigns. We need stop this madness. Lets tame Ntewewe by fire by thunder. Why is he freely going round country campaigning for Edgar? Chipenzi where are u?
Please napapata @ Zambian by blood as much as you would like Chipenzi to step out and play a role, I fear he may not enjoy the same unfettered freedom as Ntewewe’s from the civil law enforcement agency who have a skewed tendency of persecuting those not using lyrics as Ntewewe’s! Probably ECZ could shed some light relating to how pre campaign conduct should be practiced by all interested actors!
Tongas have just been like this since time immemorial except Mazoka who was forward looking. Upnd under HH is always antagonistic! Nthewewe shud just watch his back, they will kill him in one minute
They are useless people with morals. They will leave to regret.
Our MPs can find a common solution to Bill 10 without withdrawing it from the floor. Bill 10 is good for UPND as it is good for the country. We can’t postpone cleaning up Constitution because of few civil society organisations who have now gone silent. Mwiimbu and Mundubile can sit down and agree on which clauses they two sides will support and get MPs to pass Bilk unless truly HH wont allow his MPs to think independently. Forget about LAZ. they are not lawmakers, the lawyers thrive by having ambiguities in law. So they want this same Constitution to remain.
Ntewewe just doesn’t get it. The issue is that Amendment Bill No.10 has been Petitioned in Concourt by LAZ and others as being unconstitutional. Yali should argue its case in Concourt. Any Bill presented to Zambia Parliament should comply with the current Constitution. U cannot table an unconstitutional Bill in Parliament. The Constitution of Zambia is supreme law of the land. Parliament, the Presidency and Judiciary are subordinate to the Constitution. The Constitutionality of Bill No.10 is being questioned. Leave Concourt to hear the Petitions, adjudicate them and make a Ruling.Period.
Why does YALI and Nthewewe harbour such ingrained hatred for HH? Me think HH shud reach out to American Embassy to mediate between the 2 coz yali appears, can only listen to Americans. We dont want Bill 10 or we shall deal with Nthewewe ourselves
If it helps the country not HH we are happy. HH is not Zambia.
Ntewewe is a genius and articulates legal issues very well. Is he a lawyer by profession? Keep enlightening the Zambian masses. You have the support of every well meaning Zambian.
Mufungulwa. You are evil with your tongue, don’t accuse a tribe. May God judge you in accordance with the measurements of your tribalism.
on this one guys mwaitaya you wont get it for sure even the 2021 it will be like ftj s campaign for third term. and imagine even the weather is not on your side. people now want change things are bad. and you de campaign your selves by insulting the church which could have handled this matter wello wello , anyway its time up
Very funny. So this means that the reforms help Lungu. Now, how is that not bias?
Ntewewe’s lips are uncircumcised!
The only way to shut him up is to have him circumcised!
Let us be serious the NDF resolutions are biased