Veteran politician Vernon Mwanga has called on the ruling Patriotic Front PF government to stop trivializing the constitution making process and give the people the document as promised in their party manifesto.
Mr Mwanga who served as minister in a number of ministries under the two previous governments of MMD and UNIP said the issue of the constitution is non negotiable and that the PF should stop frustrating the process so that the country can have a constitution which they have been waiting for a long time.
The veteran politician observed that what the country needs is a good constitution which would protect everyone in the country as opposed to having a good president while some sectors of society are not protected.
He said 11years after the process was started by the Mung’omba commission in 2003 people continue to wait for the document hence the PF should not stand in the way of the people’s wishes but instead call for dialogue with stakeholders and discuss the road map acceptable to all.
He said there is need to finalize the process before 2015 so that the country can hold the 2016 elections under a new constitution further wondering what is stopping government from completing the process when the final draft has been ready since last year.
“It is a clear indication that there is national frustration about the constitution making process which is being trivialized by the government at the present moment”.
“The country does not need a good president, the country needs a good constitution to protect all the citizens all the time and I think that really the best way to go is for the government to have dialogue with the opposition political parties, the NGOs and the church mother bodies to map out the way forward and agree on a road map which will be generally acceptable among all the stakeholders”. Mr Mwanga said.
I wonder what kind of history PF is making!
if you asked me, Zambia needs a good constitution and a good president if not a great president not a kaponya
It’s not a question of one thing or the other – the two are inseperable (mutual existence). A good constitution alone is not sufficient – a good president and a good government are essential for the upholding of the constitution.
The history is clear, PF will leave a bad constitution and in this case their leadership will be questioned too.
@Ndobo ..No no Zambia don’t need a constitution. Zambia needs a GOOD president. UK has no written constitution, that I know more anybody else.
= You don’t need a good BIBLE. You need a good POPE or you who have tu ma PASTORS (oppositions, protestants.. protesting what?).
Sata don’t miss quote me by swallowing your dry saliva, there is no way I can compare Sata to a POPE.
Anyway, NAZI had a good constitution, but their president behaved 7 times worse than Sata.
I wish I was first to comment..
Even Vultures talk these days
Man is by nature corrupt. He requires a whip to keep him in order. A tough constitution that protects the people from the tyranny of political leaders is a must. All people in authority are inherently evil.
The executive will always use the police, OPSD, min of defence and communication to illegally spy on and opress the people.
The judiciary will always be under the thumb of the executive.
The legislature is designed to be the whore of the executive. How many times do you hear of “towing party lines”.
Malabish
Well said and before the clamourers start saying “… but he too never changed it..” – STOP! This just shows how perilous the situation is when people like VJ eat “humble-pie” and admit that all these years the country needed a strong CONSTITUTION – humans are fallible! Where would America have been with Nixon without a VERY CLEAR CONSTITUTION after Watergate? Bane this house is smouldering and we better hurry before it is too late and the mess mutates into an inferno !!
IWE VJ YOU SERVED IN GRZ BEFORE YET U FAILED TO PRODUCE ONE CONSTITUTION. GIVE GRZ TIME NOT JUST TALKING TALKING TALKING
Problem mu la laba sana are you aware that the present constitution was made by the mmd between 1994 and 1997 to bar Kaunda from participating in the elections in 1996?
Why didn’t they produce the constitution during their regime, they failed completely and now that they r out they wanna be all smart? in as much as we want the constitution VJ is not the right person to talk about it.
At least they did not promise. In this case PF promised with the magic 90days and even the multiple 90days now at play. PF is full ifyabukaya.
VJ has always been a wise Politican and a good reader of the political mood. PF is doomed with or without a new Constitution. There has never been a worse government than these PF maggots. Well, only time will but for Sata and scott, their ‘I don’t attitudes’ speak volumes. Too old to be bothered by anything, after they have the power. What a shame for the poor Country.
Why should should Scott be fooling us that all we need is a good president when the current president is clearly the worst president we have ever had and right now we are being brutalised and denied our basic rights daily, all because of lack of a our people driven constitution. The constitution is 2016 number ione campaign item and therefore no matter what language the PF use to delay it, they are doing it at their opwn peril. Actually if they can deliver, they still stand a chance of retaining some support.
I don’t all these comments were said in the presence of Sata. The reporter made conclusions from some other discussions otherwise the smiles wouldn’t be like that from the guys.
I don’t think all these comments were said in the presence of Sata. The reporter made conclusions from some other discussions otherwise the smiles wouldn’t be like that from the guys.
Its called file pic,and its written at George kinda memorial
To all those (and those that will be) saying VJ and Company failed to produce a constitution, does that mean PF should also fail? Does that mean what VJ is saying now is wrong? I think VJ’s past doesn’t automatically imply truth on his part is not so.
for sure a tonga will never rule. unless they sober up their anger and bitterness. is their candidate existent in muchinga ?, CB ?, northern ?, luapula ? what percentage in LSK ?, what percentage in Central ?, northwestern and western aint they going to share with milupi & mmd- why say u will rule with only southern in mind ? stop being bitter-convince our hearts so we ll vote for u
2Pac,
Tongas have sobered up already. Tongas are no longer bitter because they see opportunity to rule and propel Zambia to prosperity. Give just 1 Tonga to rule for 3 years just and see how prosperous Zambia will be. Magande and Levy did wanders, recall? Lets work together to convince ours and others’ hearts to vote for I Tonga only.
We collaborate well with Northerner/Luapulans in trade-intermarriages. THANK YOU 2Pac for your message.
Dont bring 2PAC’s name in disrepute! Tell us in your reasoning who you think will/should rule Zambia. You seem not to have widely travelled across Zambia. I may hail from the East, I have been in class with some very bright Tonga’s capable of making very fine leaders. It bothers me to be having such a discussion as this is a pure case of deep rooted primitive tribalism. For crying out aloud, Tonga’s are as good and gifted as any Zambian and have every right to aspire to any office in the land.
@2pac: Just wait and see. Your party will soon receive an eviction notice and vacate government unceremoniously.
Bwana VJ we need both a good constitution and a good President baba! What would be the point of having a good constitution and a bad president? Illogical!
A good Constitution protects the people from a bad President – like the one we have now that came to state house through LIES!
It’s the Good Constitution first St.u.pid!
It’s the best safeguard against excesses.
How can you tell if a leader will be good once elected into office?
There is no test to predict that.
Remember how Kaponyas used to say the man will deliver and what do we have now?
A good constitution is also the best safeguard for the economy.
If a serving president is failing, the Constitution should state how that president should be dealt with to protect the economy from total collapse.
This is why Africa continues to suffer from Coups due to bad constitutions!
Thanks VJ! You are one of a kind whose reasoning is never clouded by issues of the belly. I wish KK and Munkombwe could emulate you.
Dim Wit next time try to use palatable and respectful language. If you read between the lines my contention is that indeed we need a good constitution on the other hand would we be happy with a good constitution but with a bad president? A bad president is a negative! Perhaps you are real dimwit.
2pac. No wonder you were shot and killed. You tribalist
For now, CONSTITUTION and a good leader, in 2016.
Constitution, Constitution and Constitution now !
Good evening
What’s this I’m reading? What’s the use of a good constitution if it is never backed up and upheld by the leadership?
You think Nigeria, Kenya, Libya or Egypt don’t have good constitututions? Has that alone stopped them from witnessing civil unrest and other insurgencies? Let us not mislead our people with disillusioned statements. If anything, we might even find ourselves in a worse situation that we’re now in because people will become even more disillusioned, frustrated and confrontational once they realise that nothing has actually changed for the better since a new constitution was enacted.
Kenya,Libya didn’t have a good constitution,they have enacted people driven constitutions in the last two years or so,as for Egypt they don’t have it yet because the Moslem brotherhood wanted an Islamic type but the majority of its citizens prefer secular type like the Turkish constitution which is more American type.
VJ my man. Thts great of a Hero.
I love this Guy. He is so peaceful maybe thts how TYPICAL CROOKS BEHAVE.
He is a Veteran POLITICIAN of TIMES. Ihave never seen him bitter. He is so LOVELY A TONGA BULL.
WE need such many who dont shift camps any how but logival and THINK TANKS.
I agree with you. The guy is never agitated. He probably knows its in peace that he can crook people. He must really be a smoooooth criminal.
Actually a good President is what a developing country needs. South Africa has a good constitution and a bad president and we can all see how rife corruption, negligence of duty by all state institutions is down here. In SA the constitution doesnt protect the kwerekweres who are still being killed
Very true. Have you bloggers ever heard of the term ” gentle dictator “? That’s the kind of leader Africa needs to bring you development. This is a dictator who doesn’t kill his opponents, doesn’t plunder resources for himself and cronies but puts the nation’s wealth to developing the nation.he needs to be a dictator because developing countries do not have the time for debates as democracy is for the wealthy Gaddafi was one of the sort. And stop censoring me back LT!
Jurisprudence enjoins us to the rule of law (good constitution) and not the rule of men (good president).
Spot-on!
Great summary!
We already have a good constitution and a d.a.m.n good president!
You already have a bad taste and a d-a-m-ned bad judgement.
vj I agree with you completely but dont you think you are wasting your breath advising these 1diots who have cotton plugs in their ears? the only foreseeable solution is the ballot in one and half years time. its very near actually
Cotton plugs? They could have heard our shouting. They have concrete plugging their ears.
VJ HAS MADE NO POINT WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS KIND OF ADVISE WHEN HE WAS IN THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT? WAS HE VERY BLIND TO SEE OR HEAR THE CRIES FOR A NEW CONSTITUTION BY THEN OR ITS BECAUSE NOW THAT HE IS NOT GOVERNMENT HEIS FEELING THE HEAT. OR HE IS SICKING ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FRON THE OPOSITION. MAYO THIS JOB SICKER AT AN OLD AGE
How can you objectively tell whether HH or Chipimo or Father Bwalya will make good presidents once elected into office? What Laboratory test can you perform to determine one’s future performance?
This is where we get it all wrong!
I have seen that most Tongas want a 50+1 in the Cinstitution so that they can sweet talk the easterners and some other tribes. Let me tell that it won’t work. Every leadership is from God. For me I can’t vote for UPND seeing insults coming from primitive bafoons like shakafuswa. When pipo complained about Mwanawasa’s family tree he was there enjoying tribalism by Levy. Now he sees how it feels. If anything Sata’s cabinet is better balanced than that of Levy’s cabinet. The insults being hurled at Bembas by UPND makes me love PF even. Is UPNd not going to build schools, hospitals, revamp rail line, build roads etc. I know HH is better bcoz he started condemning PF 2 days after PF assumed power. PF has Provinces: L, N, CB, Muchinga, part of central, Lusaka etc.
Stop cheating yourselves!
If you read your bibles well, you will learn that not all leaders are from God!
Saul the first leader of Israel was not from God!
The problem is we have too many adulterous church goers today devoid of biblical knowledge and understanding, just hiding behind bibles!
And please change your tribal lenses and see beyond tribes and political parties then you will be on the road to maturity!
I meant HH is bitter in the above comment
We need both the formula (Constitution) and the correct parameters to live well in our mother land.
The tenents of democracy are being compromised ny greed, desire to control, lack of credence, personification of fundamental rights of all and mediocrity in the perception of important issues. This will prove costly for those that champion selfish motives over service for which the people gave them the mandate. Am in!!
Note the HH is not a means or an end. Zambia just needs the total overhaul of all structures of society. PF has managed very well to move us backwards. HH will even stir us hindwards. We need a forward thinker which we don’t have on the political stage at the moment. Prof. Chirwa’s imagination is a way forward. group of learned people need to take the mantle to stir the country forward. After Levy we should have not gone back to this. Am in!!
I am always heartened when I see political leaders getting along. This is health for a nation that wants to move forward. It is not necessary to constantly exchange insults – the political battle should be fought with ideas, values and practical demonstration of quality leadership – all done with a sense of humility and gratitude to the nation that has entrusted you with the authority to run their affairs. I am equally disturbed about the on-going talk and obsession with tribalism, this is UNZAMBIAN and we have seen that no one wins from such practices. We are stronger together!
Its constitution, constitution, constitution and constitution again. Whether you like it or not, it is knocking on the door. Cry as much as you want. You are not going to be able to stop the new constitution from being enacted. KK did not want multi-party democracy, he failed to stop the momentum. FTJ wanted a third term; he kissed the canvas. PF, you will end-up being a disgrace to yourselves. You are not going to be able to stop this constitution momentum, because the Zambians want it.
PF get prepared to be evicted from power. Consider the 50% plus 1 as a done deal.
We only need one – which is a good constitution.That fact becomes paramount when you get a bad president like the present one because you’ll have the mechanisms to tame or remove him.A good president rarely needs the checks and balances required for a tyrant.
Hatutaki katiba yenye mawazo na maoni ya huyu dikteta Sata sababu yeye hana roho ya manufaa kwa nchi yetu.
Well VJ should be the last criminal to even comment on such issues. There are many people out there and on this blog who have never had the opportunity to influence govt decisions like VJ did and it could have been better if the constitution we are discussing was considered a priority during his time in govt. Back then he saw nothing wrong with and now he has the balls to yap about the constitution! VJ should let other people talk as he has totally nothing to offer but crap. But in the meantime we want the people driven constitution before 2016 elections!
what pathetic reasoning and discursive culture you have: yo like,
the industrialised countries shouldn’t say China must stop exploding its CO² emissions b’cos their forefathers of the industrial revolution did worse ! Times have changed baba, its for that reason that the word “repentance” exists in God’s vocabulary. A GOOD constitution maximises the SAFEGUARDS AGAINST sadistic/egoistic government by one person or party, a so-called good president’s achievements can easily be nullified or negated by a buffoon( read Zambia 911, LPM ) !
Naimwe, lets be realistic. The constitution is not for VJ. Whether VJ had time or not a new constitution that reduces the excesses of the President is a must. After all the fact that VJ failed to give you a constitution does not in any way bar him from contributing effectively.
Want an example of a WHACKO constitution? Look at Russia and the Putinist-machinations ! Then you understand WHY the current “presidential constitution” pa Zed MUST GO !! I rest my case.
At least MMD changed the constitution in the short time and they did not promise. And there were not rubish answers and statements from MMD presidents like we are hearing today, shattering the peoples hope to have the people driven constitution.
Now I am too sad (as a result of political confusion in mother Zambia) to even enjoy sex. Please help.
Constitutions and leaders make each other. Blind faith in a document is wrong. There is need for constant dialogue between stakeholders in order to move forward and make progress. Politicization is simply intended to gain advantage at election time.
This UNIP zealot sounds 10 x wiser than PF’s vice-president, who recently made an absurd and irrelevant comment on this subject. Is President Sata listening to wrong advisers?
But you need a good President to have a good constitution. Look at what is happening in Zambia. There is a horrible man in State House, and Zambia is headed for the worst constitution.