Constitution amendment bill to be tabled before Parliament in June

Justice Minister Given Lubinda has disclosed that constitution amendment bill will be tabled before Parliament during the June – July parliament sitting.

The Justice Minister was responding to question in parliament from Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo who wanted to know when the Constitution (Amendment) Bill to address the lacunas in the Constitution will be presented to the National Assembly; and what has caused the delay in presenting the Bill.

Mr. Lubinda has assured the house that the bill will be tabled in June and that government has not delayed in presenting the bill.

Mr. Lubinda explains that owing to the number of factors such as the complexity of the business of refining the constitution, sufficient time required to facilitating the necessary drafting, expert review, publication and tabbing of the constitution, the bill can only be tabled in June.

He has told Parliament that this is in order to comply with article 79 of the constitution which requires that amendment to the constitution to be published for 30 days before taking it to parliament.

The Justice Minister has assured the nation that the amendment bill will be published to the public in May to allow citizens understand what is contained in the bill.