MPs urged to retable constitution issue as house resume sitting

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has called on the parliamentarians to retable the issue of the constitution suspended during the last sitting as the house resumes sitting today.

FODEP Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi says despite the issue of the constitution being shelved to allow dialogue between government and stakeholders, the dialogue did not take place as it turned out to be a time-buying tactic by the government.

Mr Chipenzi says the constitution debate continues with unclear positions and direction from the government and the process gobbling so much public resources.

He says Zambia cannot afford to hold the 2016 elections under the current “defective but functional” constitution.

Mr Chipenzi states that it will be a political and electoral suicide for stakeholders to allow such to happen in a country which is groaning with unending by-elections.

He says FODEP believes that time to hold government to account based on its promises on the floor of the house in line with the provision of Article 51 of the current constitution by parliamentarians is ripe and parliamentarians should not shy away from this noble responsibility and duty.

Mr Chipenzi adds that FODEP further wants to see parliament compelling government to table the Access to Information Bill and push for the amendment Bill on the Public Order Act to be brought before parliament.

He has urged parliamentarians to remain resolute and firm in holding government accountable and in ensuring that public resources are utilized as promised on the floor of the house.