LAZ says Govt breaching trust of Zambians on constitution

The Law Association of Zambia says maneuvers by government of directly opening debate on the content of the draft constitution by tabling the constitutional amendment bill on the floor of Parliament, not only represents a radical departure from the initial constitution making process, but also represents a serious breach of trust reposed by the people of Zambia in the PF Government.

LAZ President George Chisanga says by sending the entire final draft constitution to Parliament, excluding the Bill of Rights, the PF Government is for the first time attempting to introduce a completely new constitutional order which will change the country as it is known through Parliament and to the exclusion of the wider community of stakeholders in the constitution making process.

LAZ President George Chisanga

Mr Chisanga in a statement to QFM News says while it appears on the face of it that government is submitting to the will of the people,the reality is that it is a constitutional requirement that any Bill presented before Parliament has the power to change the content of the final draft constitution according to their particular interests.

He states that LAZ is of the view that allowing the enactment of the constitution in this manner sets a very dangerous precedent as it assumes that Parliament is more powerful than the will of the people of Zambia and that any government that comes into power can completely change the constitution at will without the endorsement of the people of Zambia who are mere spectators.

Mr Chisanga says LAZ reiterates that the reason for appointing the Technical Committee under Article 44 of the current constitution was to give dignity to the process and also to ensure that the process of making the constitution is owned by the people on whose behalf the Republican President holds the mandate to govern.

He says LAZ is very disheartened with the government proposed mode of adopting the new constitution,with the exception of the bill of rights and Article 79,through parliament.

Mr Chisanga states that this development is most disturbing ,coming as has, against the backdrop of government having recently suggested that it would take to Parliament what it termed as non-contentious clauses of the final draft constitution for enactment.

Mr Chisanga says its saddening to note that ever since the PF government was given the mandate to lead the country in actualizing a people driven constitution, among other things, their actions and speech have been so inconsistent that people have been left to wonder if it will be possible for the country to come up with a good constitution that will not only reflect the aspirations and expectations of the Zambian people, but also one that will stand the test of time for generations to come.