PF MUST DELIVER ON NEW CONSTITUTION, YALI CAN HANG - SUNDAY CHANDA OSF firstly wishes to register its disappointment at the new and strange position taken by YALI on the constitution. We find it difficulty to accept this proposal by Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) for a national referendum to be held alongside the 2016 general elections to cut costs. The proposal is out of tune and we ask YALI to re-evaluate their new stance. YALIs statement is a shortcut of telling Zambians that 2016 general elections must not be held under a new constitution and this is a departure from what stakeholders and citizens have demanded. We also worry that such a divisive proposal was presented to the Minister of Justice Hon. Kabimba even before YALI could consult counterparts on it. This act or ommission alone has the potential to weaken the fight for a new constitution. We want to believe that YALI is a member of the grand coalition and procedurally, they should have seen it fit to consult with counterparts. We cannot, therefore, be wasting time on discussing distracting proposals. We therefore find YALIs proposal contradicting the demands for a new constitution. YALI knows too well that for the PF Government, it has not been a lack of money but lack of political will to give Zambians a new constitution before or by the next elections. The PF government has the financial arrogance to spend excessively on parliamentary by-elections when it suits them and as such advacing cost as a reason is neither here nor there. Lastly, OSF is calling on the Minister of Justice Hon Wynter Kabimba to release the new draft constitution than wasting Citizens time on rejected proposals. PF has demonstrated high levels of insincerity on the constitution. The reasonable minds within PF must stand up on this matter and guide their Party on this matter. There is no otherway of explaining PFs change of heart on the constitution - a matter that was central to the partys election campaigns- except that they are scared of certain clauses such as the 50+1 clause and running mate, among others. The current constitution is a heart without a shell, it is poisonous and provides dictators with sufficient ground to oppress citizens. Zambia is in dire need of strong institutions created by the constitution. We must be ashamed that 50 years after Independence, Zambians have never given themselves a constitution, except for those doctored by the ruling class in the same manner PF is doing today. Our appeal to PF is for them to sit back and think seriously on how they wish to be remembered by Zambians. Zambians deserve a constitution by 2016 and before the elections. Issued by: Sunday Chanda Executive Director OSF
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 13:27:55 +0000
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