Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has welcomed the pronouncement by the President Lungu that he has nothing to hide or fear in delivering the New Constitution to the Zambian people in the shortest and most practical time possible.
YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza has called on both President Lungu and his Minister of Justice Dr. Ngosa Simbyakula to back up this call with a demonstrated commitment.
Mr. Mwanza has told QFM News in a statement that while he commends President Lungu for his personal track record he keeps referring to of releasing the draft Constitution within weeks when he was appointed Minister of Justice, he believes the President and his administration must not continue to swim in the past glory but now demonstrate a commitment to moving this process forward.
Mr. Mwanza notes that from the time the Minister of Justice released a roadmap to Parliament, there has been less engagement between government and other stakeholders such as opposition political parties on the way Government wants to proceed with amendments and the Referendum alongside the 2016 General Elections.
He says he expects President Lungu to demonstrate a commitment to delivering a referendum on the Bill of Rights alongside the 2016 general elections by appointing the Referendum Commission now.
He adds that Minister of Justice Dr. Simbyakula should also call for an Indaba that involves all stakeholders and ordinary citizens to discuss the best ways of presenting amendments to Parliament.
The YALI Governance Advisor says the Ministry of Justice has a budget approved by Parliament for this process and they must be seen to be engaging citizens and stakeholders before Parliament opens in June to discuss which amendments must be presented to Parliament.
Mr. Mwanza has since called on President Lungu to back his words with a further commitment of appointing a Referendum Commission that will see Zambia hold a Referendum on the Bill of Rights alongside the 2016 General Elections.