Grand Coalition give draft constitution thumbs up

The Grand Coalition championing the speedy enactment of the new republican Constitution has given its thumbs up to the final draft constitution released by government recently.

The Grand Coalition has observed that most submissions made during national convention on the constitution have been adequately reflected in the final draft constitution.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka today, Grand Coalition Acting Vice Chairperson Beatrice Grillo, says the Grand Coalition met on 25th and 26th October, 2014 to validate the final draft constitution.

Ms Grillo says the Technical Committee must be commended for doing a good job by ensuring that the wishes of the people of Zambia are respected.

Ms Grillo says the Technical Committee took on board most of the recommendations from the broad-based and consultative district, provincial and national conventions, reflecting the wishes and aspirations of Zambians in the final draft constitution.

She states that a few provisions that have not been included can be dealt with in subsidiary legislation and that they do not see any significant challenge with the speedy finalization of the national constitution.

Ms Grillo has however observed that previous constitution reform processes in Zambia have strategically died with the release of the final draft constitution.

She is hopeful that this time around, the Zambian people will not be taken for granted.

And Ms Grillo has noted that if the country had a good constitution, the forthcoming presidential by-election would have been avoided.

Ms Grillo, who is also Non Governmental Organization Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Board Chairperson, demands that a referendum in which to adopt a new republican constitution be held as soon as possible.

And Ms Grillo says the Grand Coalition will continue de-campaigning political parties that are not willing to fulfill their promises starting with the ruling PF.