Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Leonard Chiti
The Grand Coalition on the Campaign for the People Driven Constitution has cautioned government to be wary that its planned June constitution amendments may not be plain sailing.
The Grand Coalition has based its predication on the fact that the ruling PF does not enjoy a two third majority in Parliament where non contentious issues of the final draft constitution have been scheduled to be tabled next month.
Coalition chairperson Leonard Chiti has told Qfm News that despite that having the support of some MMD and UPND Members of Parliament, his Coalition thinks that there is no guarantee that government will meet the 106 threshold for passing any legislation in the House.
Father Chiti states that this means that there is a risk that government’s idea of making partial amendments can be sabotaged.
He says there is already a precedent set under the previous MMD government when the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) adopted draft constitution could not be enacted into law in Parliament due to failure to meet the required two third majority votes.
Asked whether time is now ripe for the Grand Coalition to execute its undisclosed action plan to stop government from attempting next month’s constitution amendments, Father Chiti has declined to comment.
He says this is because government through the Minister of Justice Ngosa Simbyakula has shown willingness to have another meeting with the Grand Coalition before Parliament resumes its sitting next month.
The Grand Coalition chairperson who has described the meeting which his Coalition and Dr. Simbyakula had yesterday Friday the 15th of May as good, states that his Coalition does not want to jeopardize the opportunity to meet the Minister again.
He says the Coalition is particularly pleased that the Justice Minister was magnanimous enough to meet it in short notice.