Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Human Rights Commission has welcomed the Government’s intention to call for another National Referendum on the proposed Bill of Rights.
Commission Chief Information, Education and Training Mweelwa Muleya says the pronouncement by the Justice Minister that the Government will widely consult with key stakeholders before tabling the proposed Bill of Rights to the eligible voters through a national referendum is the right way to go if the process is to succeed.
Mweelwa Muleya
Mr Muleya says it is the considered view of the Human Rights Commission that the proposed Bill of Rights is largely progressive and areas of contention can easily be addressed so that there is consensus on what needs to be entrenched under the Bill of Rights.
He says the Commission believes that valuable lessons can be learnt from the failed referendum and fundamental among such lessons is the inescapable need for political consensus on paramount national issues such as the contents of the Bill of Rights.
Mr. Muleya adds that there is need for a spirit of give and take in such governance issues as failure to do so may result in losing everything as the case was during the 11th August referendum on the proposed Bill of Rights and amendment to Article 79 of the Zambian Constitution.
He states that it is totally unjustifiable that, more than 25 years after being a pioneer of multi-party democracy in the Southern African Region, Zambia should continue maintaining a Bill of Rights which, for instance, is inherently discriminatory against women.