Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Civil Society Constitution Coalition (CSCC) has observed that the failure of Zambia giving unto itself a people driven Constitution lies squarely at the feet the narrow interests of the ruling class and not on the legal, logistical and financial considerations that has been the mantra of successive ruling parties.
CSCC Chairperson Judith Mulenga in a statement says the argument of cost that the PF Government has always cited and which has been rendered credence by certain sections of the diplomatic community is not justified.
Ms Mulenga questions whether the cost of a stand-alone referendum outweigh the colossal sums of money already spent on all constitution making processes that Zambians have been put through.
She says her Coalition’s considered view that a mishandling of the conclusion of the constitution making process will result in Zambia still striving for a good acceptable Constitution that can stand the test of time fifty years from now and prove more costly in the long term.
Ms Mulenga states that her organisation is further opposed to the holding of a referendum on the proposed Bill of Rights alongside the often acrimonious,violent and highly partisan charged general elections as this will not only be setting the Bill of Rights to fail but also relegating the Bill of Rights to secondary consideration.
She says if the PF Government recognized that human rights are a birth right and therefore non negotiable, they would have opted for a wholesome adoption of the constitution through a stand-alone referendum considering that all other parts contained in the Constitutional of Zambia Bill are based on human rights.
Ms Mulenga has since implored Members of Parliament to exercise delegated power from Zambian citizens, stating that Zambians have already made known their aspirations and expectations of the new constitution and that the least MPs can do is not to betray the trust and confidence of Zambians by falling prey to narrow partisan interest in the constitution making process.
She has further reminded the Members of Parliament that the people are supreme and all power is reposed in the people and therefore the exercise of that power in Parliament should at all times reflect the people’s aspirations.
She adds that Members of Parliament should not betray the people’s will on this by even attempting to begin to undo what was agreed upon at the national convention.