Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza
Zambians have been advised to demand from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) on whether the Referendum on the Bill of Rights and Article 79 will be binding or advisory so as to make informed decisions on how they will vote.
Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza says his organization has closely examined article 79 of the Constitution and Regulations 34 and 35 of the Referendum Regulations and they can safely conclude that the August 11th Referendum which has been called by President Lungu in accordance with the Referendum Act and Article 79 is very advisory and only requires that, at a minimum, 3,765,046 persons who are 18 years and above turn up to vote for Government to send the Bill to Parliament for alterations.
Mr. Mwanza says he is aware that ECZ has also being sending messages to voters advising that voting in the referendum serves only one key purpose that is to ensure that Government can know whether voters agree to changes or not.
He says what the Zambian public should be asking themselves is whether the referendum will be binding or advisory and that YALI has always advice that in holding a referendum, it must be clear from the outset what the status of the referendum is.
Mr. Mwanza says he is aware that framers of the current Referendum Act and Regulations did frame the Referendum law to avoid clearly stating whether the referendum outcome would be binding thereby safeguarding government’s interest by providing room for maneuvers in the event that the outcome of the referendum is not the outcome that it supports.