Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Grand Coalition on the Demand for a People Driven Constitution says it is alarmed by the existence of a Constitution of Zambia Bill 2014 meant for the enactment of the new constitution.
The Grand Coalition says it was expected that this Bill which is a creation by government would have been released at the same time with the final draft constitution and Technical Committee final report.
Coalition Chairperson Leonard Chiti says they are concerned that such secrecy surrounding the Bill appears to suggest that the country is now moving towards the enactment of a new constitution without a referendum.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka this afternoon, Father Chiti has noted that this is because there is no mention of a referendum in the purported Bill.
He says it is on this fact that the Grand Coalition’s major concern is based especially that since 1973 all changes to the country’s constitution have been made through a government Bill passed through Parliament.
Father Chiti notes that with such a situation, the ultimate decision as to what is contained in the constitution has been left with politicians who have their own interests to serve and thereby cheating the people of Zambia of the right to choose their destiny.
He says the people of Zambia do not want to go through another piecemeal constitution making process.
Father Chiti states the Patriotic Front government should therefore confirm its commitment to delivering a people constitution by enacting a legal framework that will protect the current constitution making process from interference.
He says in the best interest of transparency and accountability, the Grand Coalition is thus repeating its call to all presidential candidates including the ruling party candidate to sign the social contract binding them to delivering a people driven constitution in the outlined manner to avoid any uncertainty.