Chinsali stakeholders elated with Passage of Bill 7

Scores of residents who include the church, Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens in Chinsali District in Muchinga Province have expressed delight at the passing through of Bill 7.

This follows the successful voting of the bill by all Members of Parliament yesterday when the bill was presented for third reading in Parliament.

Chairperson for Pastor’s fellowship Provincial Organising Committee Reverend Mutale Ndoki said the bill was not politically inclined in any way hence should be embraced by all.

Rev. Ndoki said bill 7 will greatly help the people of Zambia especially those in rural areas through equitable representation.

He said with the passing through of the bill, it now gives confidence to the people that large constituencies will be delimitated which will promote equitable resources and development.

Rev. Ndoki further said the delimitation of constitutional boundaries will help to foster development, adding that currently MPs with larger constituencies are failing to develop their areas due their vastness.

“Like in Muchinga Province all the eight districts made submissions to have Constituencies delimitated due to the vastness of the districts,” he said.

He echoed that the church was looking forward to the commencement of the delimitation process as soon as the President ascents on the bill.

Rev. Ndoki called for Unity in the country and particularly in Chinsali saying this was not a time for finger pointing of who was in support and who was against Bill No. 7.

” I want to urge the President and the people of Zambia to focus on the issues contained in the Bill and not to be finger pointing at who was against or for the Bill, because without unity all the efforts will be in vein, this is the time to work together ,” he said.

He said without unity of purpose all the efforts made to ensure that the bill goes through in Parliament will be water under the bridge as it will defeat the purpose of implementing the amendment process of the Zambian constitution.

He further called for unit in the country now that the Bill has been voted for.

Meanwhile, a Senior Citizen Felix Nongo has commended Members of Parliament for not politicising Bill 7 during yesterday’s voting session.

He further congratulated President Hakainde Hichilema and his administration for the initiative of Bill 7.

“I want to say kudos to the people of Zambia, MPs and the UPND government who include the Head of state Mr Hakainde Hichilema for making the right decision on behalf of the people they represent,” he said.

Mr Nongo said the wider consultation countrywide to get the views and input from the people of Zambia has contributed to positive response on Bill 7.

He said the bill will not only benefit this generation but future generations to come through various services which will be attainable through the progressive Bill.

And Muchinga Province Disabilities Association Executive Chairperson Godwin Mubanga says Persons with Disabilities in the province were elated with the outcome of bill No. 7.

Mr Mubanga said the bill was of great importance to people with disabilities as voices of the marginalised will be heard through the increased presentation.

He said it  was the first of its kind since independence to have a constitution that support the inclusion of marginalized persons such as persons with disabilities ,youths and women through proportion representation.

“We are so proud of this government for upholding and championing the rights of persons with disabilities through this Bill,” He echoed.

He said for a long time persons with disabilities have not been well represented at all levels including Parliament as the number has been low.

Mr Mubanga has also appreciated the Government for acknowledging and considering the rights of the marginalised in the Country for fair representation.

He further said the passing of Bill 7 was inevitable.

And Rhoda Namutenda has called for more sensitization on Bill 7 despite the Bill passing in Parliament.

Ms Namutenda charged that the content of Bill 7 will be meaningful to Zambians among them women in rural areas if they are sensitized fully on the Bill.

She said the Bill was progressive in its nature and to those that understand it unlike those who do not have knowledge on its content hence the need to continue with awareness.

“The Bill has been surrounded with so many critics as some people were being misled due to lack of information on the Bill particularly for women in remote and rural areas,” she added.

Yesterday Bill 7 received massive support and votes when it was presented to Parliament.