Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Government has ruled out postponing the referendum on the Bill of Rights which will be held alongside the August general election.
Chishimba Kambwili
Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili says the Electoral Commission of Zambia will proceed and hold the referendum alongside the elections in line the Cabinet resolution for the two exercises to be held together.
Dr. Kambwili has told Qfm in a telephone interview that as things stand, preparations for the referendum are already underway.
He says government has established that running a referendum as a standalone electoral process would cost as much as it costing the Country to hold the forthcoming general election.
Dr. Kambwili says given that the Zambian economy is not performing well, it will be irresponsible on the part of government to hold the referendum as a standalone electoral program.
He was responding suggestions by some stakeholders that government suspends the holding of the referendum to avoid congesting the general election.