SACCORD says Govt concerns on referendum are genuine

Boniface Cheembe

The Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) says government’s concerns against holding a constitution referendum before 2016 are genuine.

Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili has said government has reservations on holding a national referendum as a mode of adopting the new constitution because it might end up being an exercise in futility owing to the voter apathy that has characterized elections in the country.

SACCORD however thinks that now that government has countered other stakeholders on holding a referendum on the final draft constitution before the 2016 general election, a stalemate has been reached on how the country’s new constitution should be enacted.

Executive Director Boniface Cheembe says his organization is therefore proposing that government calls for a roundtable constitution summit with all relevant stakeholders in order to come up with an ultimate way forward as regards the enactment of the country’ new constitution.

Mr. Cheembe says SACCORD is also advising government and other stakeholders who will attend the proposed constitution summit not to go with preconceived minds.

He says both government and the stakeholders ought to have flexible minds in order to reach an amicable consensus in resolving such a sensitive conflict.

Mr. Cheembe states this means government should further avoid advancing its position of how best the country’s constitution can be enacted not until the constitutional summit has been held and consensus reached.