Muchinga youths support inclusive constitution reforms

Youths in Muchinga Province have thrown their weight behind efforts to make their submissions in the on-going Constitutional Amendments sittings, emphasising the need for effective participation of young people, women and persons with disabilities in leadership positions.

Speaking during submissions to the Technical committee on the Constitutional amendments being held at the Civic Centre in Chinsali today, a Youth from Lavushimanda District, Van Kalanje said increasing representation of youths, women and persons with disabilities is a good move to promote inclusive leadership.

Mr Kalanje added that increased representation will also encourage each group to have leaders that will have empathy to addressing issues peculiar to them.

And another youth from Mafinga District, Friday Silwimba said that there is need for enhanced representation of youths, women and persons with disabilities to represent them in leadership positions.

Meanwhile, other members of the Public including senior citizens also made their submissions on various proposed terms of references.

Hildah Nachalwe, a senior citizen based in Chinsali District said holding of by-elections is costly for the nation and proposed that in an event that an elected leader such as area Member of Parliament or a Councillor dies, the political party where the deceased belonged should select another member to replace the deceased.

Ms Nachalwe added that in an event that the deceased is an independent person then the candidate who was second can take up the position without spending on by-elections.

And another Senior citizen, Oliver Mulenga also submitted similar reviews that the Country loses a lot of resources on by-elections, adding that in the case of the death of an elected candidate, the other candidate who came second during the election should automatically replace the deceased.

 As part of the ongoing constitutional amendments process, stakeholders from across the province have been making submissions, the exercise has been hailed as a testament to the government’s commitment to transparency and broad-based