The National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has today opening in Lusaka in readiness to start debating the Mung’omba draft constitution, adopt it and later present it to parliament for enactment.

Officially opening the first meeting of the NCC, President Levy Mwanawasa asked members of the conference to responsibly, objectively, patriotically and without any political influence, debate the draft constitution and come up with a final one that would satisfy all citizens.

Dr. Mwanawasa said NCC members should realize that national interest was more paramount than anything else.

“This exercise is not about opposition political parties versus MMD and its government or opposition political parties, certain churches and civil society organizations versus Levy Patrick Mwanawasa,” he said.

He said if members of the NCC were to approach the exercise with attitudes, they would hurt the national interest.

He urged the members of the NCC to work towards formulating a document that would be accepted and liked by any government and president even after he has left office.

And President Mwanawasa has congratulated members of the NCC, especially those coming from political parties, civil society organizations and church mother bodies that did not support the NCC.

“I laud you for exhibiting true and mature leadership on this matter. I invite you now that let us move together with unity of purpose by giving ourselves a constitution we can all be proud, a constitution which even though our friends have chosen not to participate in this conference, they can all come to respect and can join the rest of the nation in congratulating all of you for a job well done,” he said.

The President further said he could not understand why some sections of the community were raising concern over the cost of the NCC process, which they could be spent on other developmental projects.

He said was in fact far less expensive than other processes that could be used to adopt the constitution.

He explained that the NCC had the support of the majority as it was accepted by political parties under the Zambia Interparty Dialogue through a summit of president.

Dr. Mwanawasa reminded Zambians that the legislative power was vested in parliament under article 62 of the present constitution of Zambia.

Earlier, Minister of Justice, who is also convener of the first meeting of the NCC, George Kunda urged members to realize that they were meeting as one family charged with the responsibility of coming up with a good constitution for the Zambians.

The NCC has about 462 members, representing various social interests in the country.

Some of the issues contained in the draft constitution that the NCC is to debate include the bill of rights and its enforcement, citizenship, economic and social rights, representation of people and public finance and budget.

Others issues are political party funding and registration, executive, legislative, judiciary, Chieftaincy and house of chiefs, land and property, and environment and natural resources.

Justice Minister George giving his remarks said NCC members expect the person that will be elected to guide them in coming up with a better constitution.

He said NCC members are meeting as one family with a conscious that Zambians are expectant of a document that will stand the test of time.

Mr. Kunda, who was the convenor of the meeting said the meeting has been convened in accordance with section 2 (5) 2007 and by the authority vested in him following the enactment of the NCC act.

He said NCC has a maximum of one year in which to complete its mandate but however stated that it can ever shorten the period or extend it.

The Justice Minister however stressed on the need for the NCC to expedite the business of the conference.

Meanwhile, Two participants to the National Constitution Commission (NCC) have successfully filed their nominations for the post of Chairperson.

These areChasefu MP, Chifumu Banda and Dr Patrick Matibini.

Mrs Mwangala Zaloumis went through unopposed as spokesperson for the NCC which started sittings today.

The nomination results were announced returning officer from the Electoral Commissionof ZAmbia (ECZ), Mrs Joseline Mubita this evening.

Voting for the NCC chairperson will be conducted tomorrow at 14:00hrs.

President Levy Mwanawasa has said that there is need for the MMD on the Copperbelt to be revamped.

The President, who is in the province to attend the burial of his uncle in Mufulira tomorrow, said on arrival at the Ndola International Airport that he is very disappointed with the disorganisation of the party on the Copperbelt.

President Mwanawasa took a swipe at MMD party officials that were secretly supporting the Patriotic Front to openly do so and resign from the MMD.

“You come in numbers to welcome me at the airport, but you don’t vote for me, don’t think I don’t know what you do at night. I have eyes all over. During the day you are MMD, in the night you are PF. Have morals and do it openly” he said.

The President further said he was very disappointed with the outcome of the results in the Nchanga by-elections in Chingola.

Dr Mwanawasa said he could not accept the margin by which the MMD had lost the Nchanga seat considering the efforts that government was putting in place in the province in ensuring that the mines were revamped.

“If you properly explain to the people the developmental projects that we have embarked on in the province, there is no way we can lose by a margin of 8000 to 2000 votes. I can’t accept that margin,” he said.

He said government had spent a total of K161 billion to pay retrenched workers on the Copperbelt and had revamped the mining sector, which had collapsed by the time the new deal administration was coming into office.

He said if all these projects were properly explained to the people there was no way MMD would lose.

Meanwhile the President said that he had received the petition by the Copperbelt MMD youths and added that it would be considered at the next National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

The MMD youths on the Copperbelt had petitioned their embattled Provincial Chairman Terence Findley.

And speaking earlier, Copperbelt Provincial Minister, Mwansa Mbulakulima thanked the President for his initiative and courage of convening the National Constitution Conference (NCC) despite the unwarranted attacks from some sectors of the public.

Mr Mbulakulima said he was confident that the conference would give people the constitution that they deserve.

Meanwhile, Ndola residents have appealed to government to carry out a sensitisation drive on the benefits of the National Constitution Conference (NCC) as opposed to other alternative constitution making avenues.

The residents that stormed ZANIS offices in Ndola today said the public was not aware of the benefits of the NCC when compared to other avenues because there has been inadequate sensitisation about the NCC.

Simon Moyo, resident, said listening to Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata’s argument on the participation of PF in the NCC on Radio Ichengelo yesterday was an eye opener to most people in the area.

Mr Moyo said if it was true that the purpose of the NCC was to make  recommendations to the President at a cost of over K297 billion, then PF president Michael Sata is right to stop his party from participating.

Mr Moyo called on the PF MPs that had registered to rescind their decision and put the interest of the electorates at heart.

“Its not too late, those MPs should just change their minds now and leave that conference because that money should be used for developmental programmes in their various constituencies,” he said

Opposition Patriotic Front Member of Parliament (MP) for Matero Constituency in Lusaka, Faustina Sinyangwe says she was ready to be expelled by her party leadership for following parliament rules and regulation.Commenting on her decision to participate in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) despite threats from her party president, Mrs. Sinyangwe said her decision was aimed at serving the Zambian people.

“I would rather die for doing the right thing for the people of Matero,” she said.

Last week, PF president, Michael Sata threatened to expel his 27 MPs for deciding to participate in the NCC because they were going against the party’s stance.

She said her decision to participate in the NCC did not mean she was hating anybody or defecting to another political party but to contribute in producing a constitution that would stand the test of time in Zambia.

She observed that boycotting the NCC would not be beneficial to the country hence the need for her and other PF MPs to participate in the conference.

Mrs. Sinyangwe added that boycotting has never worked positively in Zambia and therefore, it would be pointless to stay away from the NCC.

“We came here to legislate and not for money,” she said noting that the fact the she participated in parliament when the NCC bill was introduced entailed that she should continue with the process until the end.

Out of the 41 PF Members of Parliament in the national Assembly, 27 have decided to participate in the NCC.

Last Friday, two PF MPs withdrew their registration to participate in the NCC after Mr. Sata advised them to resign or face disciplinary action from the party for choosing to sit on the NCC.

The NCC members are scheduled to begin their sittings at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka tomorrow.

And earlier in the day, Chief Justice, Ernest Sakala implored members of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) to embrace the spirit of peace and harmony during the sittings and deliberation of the conference.

Mr. Justice Sakala said peace, harmony and compromise amidst diversity would be important in coming up with a durable constitution that would be accepted by all.

He said NCC members, despite misgivings from certain quarters of society, perform their tasks with impartiality for the sake of the nation.

He was speaking at Mulungushi International Conference Centre today when he swore in over 120 members of the NCC, which is an additional number to the 338 members that took oath last week.

“In your deliberations, serious differences are bound to occur. This will be inevitable. Thus what democracy entails. But you must all cultivate a spirit of give and take. We do not expect 100 per cent consensus, but that there will be consensus. Compromise should guide the proceedings,” he said.

Mr. Justice Sakala further said the NCC members should set an example to the nation that they were united in diversity and that they could produce a document that would be accepted even by those that doubted the process from the beginning.

“I want to say that we have only one country, Zambia. You have been privileged to be given the obligation and opportunity to shape its destiny for now and for the future,” he told members.

He advised the NCC members against breaching the oath they have taken because the oath represented the demands of the nation.

The members swore to faithfully, impartially and fully perform their duties to the best of their ability.

The NCC starts its sitting at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre tomorrow.

And in Livingstone, United National Independence Party UNIP Vice chairperson for Livingstone District LUTHER PEYTON has expressed disappointment at some politicians from Choma and Kalomo for supporting some Patriotic Front Members of Parliament to sit on National Constitutional Conference (NCC).

Mr. Peyton told ZANIS in an interview today that he listened with shock to Sky Forum, phone in program on Sky FM Radio this morning to note that there are still some politicians in the country who do not understand what it is to become a political party member.

He said it is not something difficult to become a political party member because there are rules that guide one as a member of a party, saying once a member fails to comply with those rules, one is automatically fired by that party.

Mr. Peyton said as a member of UNIP, he does not support Mr Michael Sata’s party, but supports his decision of expelling his members of parliament for not adhering to the party’s policies.

He said the PF MPs should not sit on the NCC tomorrow but should wait for the high court’s decision since the matter is already in court.

Mr. Peyton said the expelled PF members have no representation at the NCC hence they should not enjoy not even a single penny hanging at the NCC because they have disobeyed the party rules.

He added that Sata’s move is in the right direction and that people should not blame him but the disobedient MPs who did not want to comply with the party’s regulations.

Mr. Peyton urged the PF leader to remain firm and stick to his principals, adding that people will later learn who is right.

The National Constitution Conference (NCC) will commence business this Wednesday, December 19, 2007.

NCC secretariat requests all members to be seated by 13:45hours as the actual sitting starts at 14:00 hours at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.

This is contained in a press statement released to ZANIS by NCC secretary, Russell Mulele, in Lusaka today.

Mr Mulele noted that all members that have been successfully sworn in will begin the sittings while all those that were not sworn in last week will be sworn in at a ceremony which will take place on tomorrow, Tuesday the 18th of December 2007 at Mulungushi International Conference Centre at 11:00 hours .

Mr mulele further noted that the ceremony will be presided over by his Lordship the Chief Justice, Enerst sakala and all members are therefore requested to be seated by 10:30 hours in readiness for the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Opposition PF Mufulira Central Member of Parliament (MP) Majory Masiye has vowed not to withdraw her condidature from the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).

And Ms. Masiye has meanwhile asserted that her stay at the NCC was purely in national interest and meant to protect and safeguard the rights and aspirations of PF leader, Michael Sata.

The member of parliament told ZANIS in an interview in Mufulira today that the current Mung’omba draft constitution allegedly had a number of lacunars which would disadvantage Mr. Sata’s bid for the 2011 Presidential race.

Ms. Masiye cited a clause in the the Mung’omba draft constitution which stipulated that no persons above the age of 65 years should stand as Republican President.

This, she stated, would automatically mean that Mr. Sata would be technically excluded from the 2011 Presidential race.

She added that it was paramount that all PF MPs stood firm and openly discussed contentious issues in the draft constitution at the NCC before time was lost.

Ms. Masiye said at the NCC PF members would be in a better position to lobby other delegates to resent any draconian pieces of law that will be brought up.

She added that expelling MPs that will sit on the NCC was not the solution to the current constitutional crisist that the country was faced with.

The MP observed that the quest for a better constitution would only come through the NCC.

Ms. Masiye added that her sitting at the NCC should not be misconstrued to mean that she had stopped supporting the cause and vision of Zambia’s biggest opposition grouping.

She has since appealed to her constituents to remain resolved and support her efforts which were only bent at making Zambia a better place, adding that time for witch hunting was long gone.