The Central province constitution convention has opened in Kabwe today with over 160 delegates from all sectors of society participating in the consultative forum.
The convention, which runs from today 3rd to 8th December at Misuku Lodge in Kabwe, is being attended by government officials, traditional leaders, the church and civil society groups, political parties and the business community among others.
The delegates are drawn from all the seven districts in the province. Officiating at the convention in Kabwe this morning, Central Province Minister Phillip Kosamu called for a serious approach to the draft constitution in order to produce a constitution that will stand a test of time.
Mr. Kosamu implored delegates at the convention to diligently analyse and represent recommendations made by the community at the district level before they can make their own contributions for the good of the people.
He further urged delegates to objectively choose credible and bold representatives to the national and sector group convention, who are able to confidently and exhaustively represent the resolutions that will be arrived at during the ongoing provincial forum.
The provincial minister has since commended the Technical Committee on Drafting the Constitution for making steady progress and accommodating the interests of the people.
Mr. Kosamu further thanked the Ministry of Justice for funding the constitution making process saying this demonstrates government’s commitment in prioritizing the interests of the people.
Meanwhile, Technical Committee on Drafting the Zambian Constitution team leader for Central province Reuben Lifuka said his team has so far adhered to the terms of reference given by President Michael Sata to produce a people driven constitution.
Mr. Lifuka also explained that the provincial convention will seek to analyse recommendations made at district level and make changes which will culminate into a draft copy that will later be presented to the national and sector group convention.
The national and sector group convention is the last stage in the constitution making process.
And speaking last evening when he featured on a Radio Maranatha talk show, Mr. Lifuka expressed confidence that the constitution making process has scored a number of successes and will complete the process within the stipulated time.
The 17 member technical committee team was appointed by President Michael Sata on 16th November and commenced work on 1st December 2011.
The team was mandated to finalise and present the final draft constitution to the President and subsequently to the people of Zambia by 30th June 2013.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Technical Committee Drafting the Zambian Constitution (TCDZC) Annel Silungwe has expressed optimism that the people of North-western province will actively participate in the constitution making process.
Justice Silungwe said he was hopeful that people in the region will make contributions that will bring about a constitution that Zambians will be proud of.
He said this when he paid a courtesy call on North-western Province Permanent Secretary Augustine Seyuba at his office in Solwezi today.
He was flanked by Mwangala Zaloumis and Patrick Mvunga who are members of the Technical Committee Drafting the Zambian Constitution.
Justice Silungwe is in the area to kick start the provincial constitution convention.
He explained that there has been some delay in starting the provincial conventions due to late submission of district consultative forum reports.
And North-western Province Permanent Secretary Augustine Seyuba assured the Justice Silungwe’s entourage that the people in his region were ready to contribute in order to come up with a constitution that will stand the test of time.
Mr. Seyuba has since commended the team on the Technical Committee Drafting the Constitution for the good work it was doing so far. He expressed hope that the contributions will make a positive difference to the next constitution of Zambia.
The convention has drawn more than 200 delegates from within the province. Among the delegates are senior Chief Kanongesha and Chieftainess Nyakulenga.
ZANIS
How complicated is this process?!
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