FODEP says it will work with government on the constitution making process to ensure that all citizens understand and participate in order for their aspirations to be met.

In an interview, FODEP national programmes sub-committee chairperson Adrian Muunga said that his organization’s objectives were to stimulate national wide interest and participation in the constitution making process.

Mr Muunga added that FODEP will also advocate for the adoption of the draft constitution through a referendum and to mobilize, educate and empower electorates to be able to exercise their rights.

“We have a sensitization meeting here in Choma to sensitize Fodep members and others from civil society to make an input in the constitution making process, FODEP has created a platform to allow civil society share their views on the constitution making process,” he said.

Mr.Muunga said that members of the civil society have different perceptions on the constitution making process which needed to be harmonized adding that FODEP was participating in the constitution making process to ensure that all the democratic tenets are not over looked.

“For instance if there are any peculiar issues in southern province with regards to the constitution making process we would like the people who will represent the districts at the provincial consultative forum to give the recommendations exactly the way they are presented without making any alterations from the district submissions ,”he explained.

Mr.Muunga said it is FODEP’S desire to see every citizen regardless of the status participate in the constitution making process especially on contentious issues like the 50percent + 1,the presidential running mate ,appointment of ministers from outside parliament and abolishment of the death penalty.

“We are giving chance to those people who didn’t attend the consultative district forum together with those who attended so that we can get feedback,” said Mr Muunga.

And Government has challenged the civil society to engage the Technical Committee drafting the new constitution to ensure that the country comes up with a people driven document.

Kitwe District Commissioner Elias Kamanga said NGO’s, the Church and political parties should bury their differences and synergize efforts towards achieving a credible, all inclusive and effective constitution.

Speaking in Kitwe today during a Forum for Democratic Process (FODEP) Consultative meeting on the on –going Constitution making process, Mr Kamanga said Zambia has wasted a lot of time and money on failed constitution review processes which he said raises the need for the current constitution to be successful.

He further reiterated the Patriotic Front Government commitment to overseeing a non partisan constitution making process.

And FODEP vice President Martin Mbewe said FODEP will plays its role to ensure that the on-going constitution making process is successful.

Mr Mbewe said there was need to come up with a constitution that will meet the demands of the Zambian people.

He said a good constitution was a foundation for good governance as such the people’s wishes should be reflected in the final document.

Meanwhile, Mr Mwale bemoaned the absence of members of parliament in the on going districts and provincial consultative meetings on the constitution making process.

He also noted that there was inadequate publicity on the proves especially in rural areas.

And a representative from the Zambia National Women’s Lobby group noted that people in rural areas did not make submissions on the draft constitution due to ignorance.

Suzanne Kambeu said the people in rural areas did not know the contents of the current constitution and those of the draft document.

Ms Kambeu urged government to put aggressive measures to ensure that people are adequately educated about the constitution making process so that they can participate effectively.

ZANIS

President Michael Sata has released 260 prisoners country-wide as part of this year’s independence celebrations.

This brings to 2,578 the total number of prisoners released this year by President Sata following the 2,318 who were released on May 25 as part of celebrations to mark Africa Freedom day.

President Sata says the move is meant to de-congest the highly crowded prison facilities in the country as well as re-integrate in-mates into society.

This is according to a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka this evening by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations , George Chellah.

President Sata released the prisoners using powers vested in him in Article 59 (d) of the Constitution of Zambia and the order of release signed today.

Zambia celebrated her 48th independence anniversary this week on October 24 under the theme “celebrating 48 years of Independence with vision, hard work and unity”.

President Sata honoured 18 people including women who were married to freedom fighters during an investiture ceremony at State House in appreciation for their spirited heroism and legacy they contributed to the nation.

This is the second time this year that President Sata has set inmates free to the delight of Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu and Zambia Prison Service authorities including the ex-convicts themselves.

On 25 May 2012, during the African Freedom Day commemorations, the President pardoned a total of 2,318 prisoners who were held in different prisons across the country.

Out of that number, 318 convicts were released out of which seven were females at the Lusaka Central Prison while the rest 2,000 inmates came from other prisons dotted across the country.

The gesture to pardon the largest number of prisoners in the history of Zambia is an indication that President Sata’s Government was committed to the promotion of human rights and in line with the Patriotic Front party’s manifesto of turning the prisons into correctional service facilities.

ZANIS

By Musukwa Frank– disability youth activist
Zambia Deaf Youth and Women (ZDYW) would like to stress that deafness does not in any way limit a person’s ability to drive a car or other vehicles. Consequently, a deaf driver does not constitute a risk for safe traffic and pedestrian movement what so ever since there is no evidence that deaf drivers due to their in ability to hear are involved in more car accidents, or are at any bigger risk on the road than those with normal hearing.

According to studies conducted in Finland as well as in several countries across the world, it is well known fact; deaf drivers have been involved in less car accidents compared to the average driver with no hearing impairments.The research also notes that the ability to hear is not necessarily the only sense that can permit safe driving. For example, it is possible to check by sense of touch whether the car horn functions or not, also it is possible to use visual means during driving, and seeing the ambulance or police vehicles’ lights flashing with the help of the rear view mirrors.

Note that most adaptive technology of today has enhanced driving with the availability of video relay machines that can be connected in the
car in such a way that the driver can monitor the rear of the car, the surrounding as well as the safety of the car when he/she is driving.
This adaptive technology can aid many deaf drivers.

While it is clear that deaf people in Zambia are rarely allowed to access driving permits, it comes to our understanding that it is solemnly upon backward beliefs that deaf people are unable to be availed with driving licenses and not necessarily a proven necessity.

Considering that most deaf persons lack access to driving permits in Zambia, when deaf persons are denied access to driving licenses and permits, it restricts the already limited employment prospects open to deaf people, and deprives them of the mobility that gives them access
to essential services. Many deaf persons work as car technicians or mechanics or are employed by transport companies. As a practical
example, deaf car mechanics can identify defects by sense of touch.Having a driving license is a necessity for these jobs.

In countries like Uganda, South africa, Swaziland, Tunisia and EU countries deaf people are able to obtain driving licenses while in other countries, such as in some parts of Asia, Arab region and Africa, deaf people are not allowed drive at all.

Instead of introducing restrictive measures, the authorities and driving schools should make it certain that deaf persons receive driving lessons in sign language, which is the language a deaf person uses as his or her first language.

Concerned about any restrictions in deaf people’s right to drive a car or other vehicles, Zambia Deaf Youth and Women demands that no discrimination is included in legislation and directives against deaf persons’ right to drive a car or other vehicles as a private person
or as an employed driver.

ZDYW would also like to refer to the UN convention on the rights of people with disabilities (CRPD) and its articles, especially on article 5 which states that, the ratification of the convention by state parties calls for the meaningful commitment and obligation to remove all legislation barriers that deprive fundamental human rights for persons with disabilities specifically – equality and non discrimination and its paragraph 2 stating that, “state parties shall prohibit all discrimination on the basis of disability and guarantee to persons with disabilities equal and effective legal protection against discrimination on all grounds.”

ZDYW calls upon the Ministry of Justice and Transport to demonstrate strong leadership in protection/defence and promotion of human rights of persons with disabilities as enshrined in the Universal human rights declaration, National constitutional laws and United Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities by placing up mechanisms to reduce of the restrictions deaf people are facing as they strive to enjoy their fundamental human rights of which free movement such as in form of legalized driving is inclusive.

Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu has encouraged Members of Parliament aggrieved by the Public Order Act in its current form to put forward proposed amendments to his office.

In a ministerial statement on the Public Order Act delivered to Parliament today, Mr Lungu said that as far as government is concerned, the Law in its current form is a good one adding that its existence is therefore justified.

He says opposition political parties should understand that the right to hold public meetings or demonstrations is not absolute, A statement that attracted sharp reactions of disapproval from the opposition benches.

Mr Lungu explained that by their very nature, public gatherings such as rallies and demonstration are potentially explosive.

He also pointed that by merely giving notice to the police for a public meeting is no guarantee that such a meeting should go ahead.

Mr Lungu stated that the public order Act is necessary to the country in order to keep public order.

QFM