ATI bill and POA will not be presented-Lubinda

Justice Minister Given Lubinda

Justice Minister Given Lubinda

Justice Minister Given Lubinda has ruled out the presentation of the Access to information bill and the Public Order ACT in Parliament for enactment and amendment respectively during the current sitting.

Mr. Lubinda says the current sitting is overloaded with other bill presentations and it will not be possible to table the two legislations.

He says with regards the Public order Act, the ministry is disappointment that it received more rhetoric and condemnation than submissions from stakeholders, a situation that has contributed to its delayed presentation in Parliament.

He adds that the calls for submissions regarding the Public Order ACT became monotonous and therefore the ministry will work with the few submissions that it received.

Mr. Lubinda is however, confident and hopeful that the two pieces of legislation will be presented in the next sitting of Parliament.

Meanwhile the Zambia law development Commission ZLDC has handed over the final report on the national consultative process on the draft political parties bill 2017 to the ministry of justice with a call on the minister to quickly present it before parliament.

Receiving the report in Lusaka today, Mr Lubinda said the strength of the bill is built on the foundation of a government that is committed to improving the rule of law, human rights and constitutionalism.

And ZLDC chairperson Justice Roydah Kaoma commended political parties and other stakeholders for their participation in the consultative process.

Meanwhile UN resident coordinator Janet Rogan says the international community looks forward to the continuation of a collective, inclusive and consultative approach in respect to all sensitive issues of governance in the country.

And representatives from the Patriotic front,UPND and  civil society organizations are happy that progress has been made in the enactment of the political parties bill further calling on the ministry of justice not to mutilate the process.

 

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