BY RICHARD MULONGA

INFORMATION is power, states a journalism cliché. Certainly information is power because it empowers people with the authority to make informed decisions in the development process or any other subject that they may be handling.

It is also true that information removes all obstacles to development. For instance, in a democratic dispensation such as the one Zambia is governing on, the provision of information to the general citizenry is critical because information is a pre-requisite to democracy.

This is justified by the fact that democracy is meant for the people, by the and with the people where free-flowing information about governance plays a major role in establishing a true transparent mode of governance.

This author has expounded on this subject to eulogise the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) for establishing a website, which is expected to provide up-to-the minute information about the proceedings in the constitutional making process.

Many Zambians have different views about the existence of the NCC and that is their right as enshrined in the same constitution being amended.

But aside from that debate, which has spurned many months and across a cross section of society. In fact this author would suggest that the criticism of NCC has been Zambia’s biggest debate since 2007 when it was established.

This week, NCC chairperson Chifumu Banda, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country co-ordinator McLeod Nyirongo, Justice deputy minister Todd Chilembo, and iconnect marketing and brand manager Jonathan Elliot with a list of other invited guests converged at Lusaka’s Mulungushi international conference centre to launch a website for the NCC.

The website, www.ncczambia.org was established because of the desire by the NCC members to have medium where they would be able to communicate with other stakeholders.

The website has been designed to provide a two-way communication channel between stakeholders and the public on this hand and the NCC on the other.

The website endeavors to provide downloadable and detailed information on the NCC, its mandate, membership, committee, news updates and verbatim reports for committee meetings and conference sittings.

It is through this website that stakeholders and members of the public would be able to make their views and demands known through the ‘have your say’ window.

The NCC website has created a platform where the members of the public can share their views on the draft constitution and also obtain latest reports.

The creation of the NCC website is commendable because it has established a channel where members of the public would be able to follow proceedings of the NCC without any interruption, unlike previously where the citizenry relied on press reports, which are usually highly edited to cater for space.

This development is also laudable because it has provided an avenue where the NCC should be transparent in its proceedings.

The website has also provided an opportunity to Zambians and other stakeholders in the diaspora to follow and participate in the proceedings of the NCC.

Interaction and information sharing with between the NCC and the public is critical. This is critical because it would guarantee an opportunity to every Zambian to participate in the constitution making process.

The UNDP provided technical and financial support to set-up the website. The UNDP in Zambia has been providing other forms of support to the NCC such as procurement of office equipment for the secretariat and the engagement of experts in the constitution making process. So far, the UNDP has pumped US$350, 000 into the NCC.

“It is my sincere hope that stakeholders will take advantage of this excellent opportunity to increase their interaction with the NCC and make their views and those of their members known to the conference.

“In this regard, I wish to implore members of the public who will have access to the website to make their contributions on-line on the numerous issues under discussion by the NCC,” chairperson Chifumu Banda said during the launch.

And iconnect marketing and brand manager Jonathan Elliot said his firm was greatly encouraged by the commitment and innovation the government and the NCC had shown in developing the interactive website. He said there would be dialogue achieved on the website.

“It ties in very well with the work we at iconnect have been driving forward, such as the rural connectivity in Namwala and our school project.

“It will allow Zambians all over the world to contribute to the shaping of our nation’s constitution,” he said.

And Justice deputy minister Todd Chilembo said the draft constitution of the NCC would only be legitimate if many Zambians were given an opportunity to participate in the making of the document.

He said sharing information was important in the constitution making process.

“I am sure the website would create the much needed interaction between the NCC and the general public,” he said.

UNDP resident co-ordinator McLeod Nyirongo said the organisation was glad that Zambia was tirelessly entrenching democracy in its society.

“The effort to accommodate as may divergent views as possible needs to be recognized as it is a key ingredient for conflict prevention,” Mr Nyirongo said.

The Internet has been used to influence decisions since it dawned on mankind.

The Internet can also play a vital role in informing and educating the Zambian people as Zambia makes strides to advance its laws because it would also allow those in the diaspora to provide in-put.

President Rupiah Banda has assured the people of Luanshya district that government will soon conclude negotiations for the handing over of Luanshya Mine to ZCCM-IH.

Mr. Banda said government is also trying to engage other strategic partners from other countries with whom it can run the Luanshya Mine after finally taking over the running of the mine.

President Banda said this after receiving a petition from Luanshya District Commissioner George Kapu who presented it on behalf of Luanshya residents at State House in Lusaka today.

Mr. Banda said government is has also been inspecting the mine regularly to ensure that it is not flooded and kept in a good state.

He said government has been actively engaged in negotiations which have reached an advanced level adding that his administration has heeded to calls by Luanshya residents to speed up the rejuvenation of the mine.

Mr. Banda said has been in negotiations and engaged Luanshya Mine owners in order to ensure that that the mine is handed over to ZCCM-IH which will run it on behalf of government.

He commended the District Commissioner for representing the people of Luanshya by delivering the petition on the economic challenges they are facing resulting from the closure of the mine.

And speaking earlier Luanshya District Commissioner George Kapu disclosed that the residents yesterday presented the petition which he presented to President Banda today.

Mr. Kapu thanked President Banda for personally receiving the petition and for his efforts in ensuring that the mine resumes its operations.

ZANIS/CM/AM/ENDS

The Electoral Commission of Zambia -ECZ- may start the continuos registration of voters in June this year.

ECZ Chairperson, Florence Mumba, says the commission has already started working on how best to carryout the exercise.

Justice Mumba told ZNBC news in an interview in Lusaka that the exercise may start in June if all the requirements are put in place before that time.

She however appealed for patience from all stakeholders to allow the commission to sort out all issues related to the exercise before it can commence.

Justice Mumba said the commission is determined to carry out the exercise in a transparent manner.

Parliament last week approved 5 billion kwacha budgetary allocation for the continuous voter registration exercise.

ZNBC/NEWS

Deputy Minister of Justice Toddy Chilembo today launched the National constitution conference (NCC) website(www.ncczambia.org) at the Mulungushi International Conference Center.

Mr.Chilembo said the website will help create a platform were members of the public can engage in interaction with the NCC delegates.

He said the website will also make it possible for all Zambians whether resident in the country or abroad to take part in the proceedings of the NCC by making their submissions on what they feel should be included in the final constitution.

Mr.Chilambo said it is gratifying to note that Zambians were following the deliberations of the NCC with keen interest, adding that the launch of the website will increase their participation in the constitutional process.

The deputy Minister said the constitutional process was not only for the NCC delegates but for all Zambians, hence the website will broaden people’s participation.

He said the website will be an additional supplement to the well publicized constitutional process which, since inception, has been well covered by both the electronic and print media in the country.

The minister has urged members of the public to take advantage of the website and participate in this important national process.

He further called on all Zambians to work in unity in order to come up with a constitution that will be inclusive and will stand a test of time.

Speaking at the same function NCC Chairperson Chifumu Banda said the NCC received the financial support from the United Nations (UN) to set up the NCC website with relief and gratitude.

Mr. Banda said since the NCC started its work in 2007, there had always been need to establish a direct communications link with the public so as to come up with a constitution that was people driven.

He urged all stakeholders to take advantage of the facility to make contributions to the NCC if the conference was to come up with an inclusive constitution.

Justice Banda has revealed that 10 committees have so far concluded their works and that the human rights committee will be concluding its works tomorrow.

He further disclosed that next 11 committees will be presenting their works in April after parliament adjourns.

Justice Banda said the delegates are working flat out to ensure that Zambians are bestowed with a good and inclusive constitution.

And speaking earlier United Nations Residents coordinator Macleod Nyirongo disclosed that the United Nations support to the NCC amounts to US$350,000 adding that the UN first began by supporting a public information advocacy campaign which was the forerunner of the constitutional review of the NCC.

He congratulated the Zambian government and the people of Zambia for tirelessly endeavoring to deepen democracy in the country.

Mr. Nyirongo who is also the United Nations development programe resident representative in Zambia said the effort to accommodate divergent views from as many stakeholder groups as possible needs to be recognized as it is a key ingredient for conflict prevention.

He is hopeful that the support given by the UN for the establishment of a website and Internet connectivity will contribute to addressing the challenge and help in ensuring inclusive constitution making process.

Mr. Nyirongo further said that the constitution of a country provides a framework upon which people can govern themselves in a democracy, hence the need for a broad based participation.

“Key issues that are of great national interest such as separation of powers, public accountability of the executive, electoral systems and enhanced public participation in national priority settings processes are all enshrined in the constitution. Further it should be noted that impact of a constitution making process transcends generations, interest groups and so forth”, he said.

He said it was for that reason that the formulation of national constitutions and consequently deepening of democracy should not be taken for granted but should aim at being inclusive and participatory.

ZANIS/PM/PC/PK/ENDS