A political activist Dante Saunders has observed that Zambia will continue lagging behind in terms of good governance and democracy as long as the country does not enact the new constitution that reflects the wishes of the people.

Mr. Saunders notes that a good constitution is a bedrock of good governance and an inclusive democratic society.

He explained that a good constitution is a driving force behind good governance, economic development as well as the lifting of the country’s social life as it gives equal rights to individuals in the country.

Mr. Saunders further said without the constitution individuals elected to run government tend to run the country as if it is a personal to holder business were they make decisions meant to benefit themselves first before they benefit the masses.

“The constitution is a driving force behind good governance, it the driving force behind lifting of the economy and development as well as the driving force lifting of our social life.

“When you have a bad constitution people run the country like its a personal to holder business. They don’t respect the people who voted for them, they think that when there are in government then they own the people of Zambia,” Mr. Saunders said.

He also noted that there is nothing to celebrate for a country that has been independent for 50 years to ranked 13th in the continent in terms of good governance and democracy when it should among the top 5.

He said country has never been at war since independence hence should be striving for the top sport as opposed to the 13th position adding that the country has all the prerequisites to be the most democratic nation as it is a peaceful nation but that the lack of a good constitution stands in the way as the current constitution gives too much powers to an individual instead of institutions of governance.

Calls for incarcerated Mufumbwe Member of Parliament Stephen Masumba to relinquish his parliamentary seat have continued with National Restoration Party NAREP Youth General Secretary Bwalya Nondo calling on the former Deputy Minister to do the honorable thing by resigning as MP so as to give the people of Mufumbwe a new MP.

Speaking in an interview, Mr. Nondo observed that it was only fair for Mr. Masumba to give up his seat as he has not been representing the electorate in Mufumbwe since he was convicted earlier in the year.

Mr. Nondo said the former Deputy Minister should give up the seat and allow for a fresh start in the constituency so that people who are honorable than him can takeover.

He said Mr. Masumba’s continued clinging on to the seat even when he is not representing the people of Mufumbwe is selfish and that it is setting a bad precedence in the country’s politics.

He added that it is because of such incidences that his party and other stakeholders have been advocating for a new constitution which will give institutions the power to enforce the law accordingly.

He noted that the country can not afford to have people who are suppose to be law makers breaking the law themselves.

He also advised political parties to scrutinize young people they put in position of influence and ensure that only young people who will not disappoint and are of integrity as well as substance are put in those positions.

SPEAKER of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has explained that only public media and one from the private sector were allowed to cover the ceremonial opening of Parliament on Friday, September 19 by President Michael Sata because of security concerns.

In his ruling to a point of order by Mazabuka Central UPND MP Gary Nkombo raised on September 23, 2014, Dr Matibini said the private media were also barred from covering the official opening of Parliament because the chambers could not accommodate all the 129 journalists that were accredited to cover the event from various media organisations.

Mr Nkombo had raised the point of order in relation to statements by Vice-President Guy Scott and Information Minister Joseph Katema regarding restrictions on some media organisations on the ceremonial opening of Parliament by President Michael Sata on September 19, 2014.

Mr Nkombo told the House that there were contradictions and inconsistencies between Dr Scott and Dr Katema on whose responsibility it was to bar the private media from covering the official opening of Parliament.

Dr Katema at a Press briefing had put the blame on the National Assembly for barring the private media, saying that it was the responsibility of the National Assembly to allocate seats to invited guests to the official opening.

Dr Scott on the other hand took responsibility on behalf of the Government over the barring of the private media and apologised.

But Dr Matibini said since the House was sitting as Parliament, which meant that the President and the Judiciary were present in the House, that state of affairs inevitably raised grave security concerns.

He said since the ceremonial opening of Parliament was also a State event, the approval of admission of members of the public and the Press in the assembly chamber was undertaken in close collaboration with State House and State security agencies.

Dr Matibini said the chamber could not accommodate all the 129 media practitioners who were accredited to cover the event.

“For this reason, and in the interest of State security, the coverage of the event was restricted to Government media and one private media,” he said.

Dr Matibini said the vast majority of the media organisations accredited were permitted to cover the event from outside the chamber, which was the presidential dais, the walkway leading into the assembly chamber and the media centre.

He said the event was also broadcast live on ZNBC television and Parliament Radio.

Later in response to another point of order raised by Mr Nkombo on the exhaustive and conclusive debate on the issue of the Constitution and Chief Chitimukulu’s installation, Dr Matibini said as far as procedures of the House were concerned, the two issues had been discussed at length by the House and “disposed off.”

Mr Nkombo, using Standing Orders 28 of the rules of the House wanted to compel the House to debate the issues of the Constitution and the Paramount Chief Chitimukulu exhaustively.

The Lusaka City Council (LCC) is disappointed with some sections of society that are frustrating its efforts in relocating street vendors.

LCC Assistant Public Relations Manager, Brenda Katongo, says the council is relocating street vendors from Cairo and Lumumba road to Simon Mwewa Lane off Lumumba Road under phase one as a way of cleaning up the city in preparation for the Golden Jubilee celebrations but people are frustrating the efforts.

And LCC Town Clerk, Gilbert Sendama, says the excises is being done in the best interest of Zambians and warned those trying to frustrate councils efforts of stern action.

In a statement availed to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Sendama added that the council will not allow anyone to trade on the street after the relocation exercise.

Mr Sendama said the relocation has reached an advance stage and the civic authority is working hand in hand with the Vendors Foundation in the excises.

He revealed that the council has since been training Vendor Foundation zone leaders from the University of Zambia (UNZA) to help sensitise their members on health and other related issues including what items they can sell at designated areas.

Mr Sendama added that UNZA has since trained a total of 50 vendors that have been identified as part of this change process.

He has since encouraged members of the public to change their mind-set and have a sense of civic responsibility as the country rebrands in Zambia’s Golden Jubilee year and beyond.

LCC on Tuesday night conducted a demolition exercise on the council land along Simon Mwewa lane off Los Angeles road to pave way for the resurfacing of the area.

Mr Sendama said the piece of land is estimated to accommodate 5,000 vendors and that the council has made provision for basic services such as sanitation and solid waste management.