CSOs to Continue Mounting Constitution Pressure Civil society organizations say they will not stop demanding for a people driven constitution until President Michael Sata listens. Young African Leadership Initiative Executive Director Andrew Ntewewe said when he featured on Muvi TV’s the Assignment programme that it was unfortunate that Zambians had been taken in a web of lies over the draft constitution. He said that the Technical Committee had made it clear that they were ready to handover the draft constitution on October 31 and had only been waiting for an appointment with the Head of State. “We are not going to stop demanding for the constitution until the President listens. We will make sure he listens. I am just from Kasama where the message is the same as everywhere that they want a constitution via a referendum,” he said. “Why has it taken this long, we should not even have been talking about the leakage of the document because the terms of reference were very clear and the PF manifesto is very clear on the constitution? They promised us a constitution in 90 days and now we are over two years.” “The Technical Committee was very clear that they had finished their work by October, 31 and all they wanted was an appointment with the president. It is unfortunate that we are being treated to this web of lies. Minister Kapeya said government was studying the document while President Sata said he would not release the document until it was deliberated on by cabinet.” Ntewewe said there was supposed to be no debate about the document being released simultaneously to the public and the President at the same time. Ntewewe also wondered why President Sata had not fired Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba against whom a tribunal has been formed to probe him for alleged breach of secrecy of oath. “Why is he protecting the Justice Minister? We saw a precedent set on Dora Siliya and you know when precedents are set they have to be followed. What is good for the goose must be good for the gander,” he said. Ntewewe said rules of natural justice demanded that Kabimba steps aside to ensure a smooth process. He also said acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda should resign to as she did not meet the qualification criteria. Zambia is currently immersed in a constitution crisis that has seen the PF backtracking on their pledge for a people driven constitution within 90 days of assuming power. zambiareports/2014/01/20/csos-continue-mounting-constitution-pressure/
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 05:02:10 +0000
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