Maravi

Levy accuses Oasis, CRC of being stubborn

Levy accuses Oasis, CRC of being stubborn
By Brighton Phiri
Sunday April 15, 2007 [04:00]

PRESIDENT Mwanawasa has accused both the Oasis Forum and Wila Mung'omba led Constitution Review Commission (CRC) of being stubborn over the constitution-making process. And President Mwanawasa has thrown out the Oasis Forum's roadmap which was presented to State House by the Non-Governmental Organisation Co-ordinating Council (NGOCC).

Addressing Oasis Forum organised stakeholders consultative meeting at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre yesterday, both Oasis Forum chairperson William Mweemba and NGOCC chairperson Marian Munyinda confirmed that President Mwanawasa responded to their roadmap and that in his letter to Oasis Forum, he accused them and CRC of being stubborn.

“On March 14, NGOCC met President Mwanawasa and handed over a roadmap on behalf of Oasis Forum and I have received a response from President Mwanawasa,” Mweemba told the consultative meeting. “President Mwanawasa make mention of how stubborn Oasis Forum and CRC were in the constitution making process. It is President Mwanawasa who appointed the CRC and not Oasis Forum. One wonders why he is blaming his own appointed commission.”

Mweemba, who is also Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president, said in his response, President Mwanawasa raised issues which were known to Zambians over the constitution making process.

“Perhaps that is the problem we have in the country. I am sorry to say, yet again President Mwanawasa has failed to stick to his statement that he will respect the will of the people over the constitution-making process. How can he lump CRC and ourselves (Oasis Forum) as being stubborn?” Mweemba asked.

Munyinda said not only did President Mwanawasa reject the Oasis Forum’s roadmap, but also curtailed any further dialogue with the civil society over the constitution making process.

“We met President Mwanawasa on 14 January, 2007 where we requested for proposals on the roadmap. We worked tirelessly with colleagues from LAZ on the roadmap and went to present the Oasis Forum roadmap. The government undertook to give our roadmap serious consideration,” Munyinda said. “Alas, dear colleagues, this response we have got from the President does not demonstrate any spirit of reconciliation.

“Reconciliation involves listening to the others and a spirit of compromise: give and take, which brings unity and builds society. I am afraid this seems alien to our President.”

She said President Mwanawasa’s action was unfortunate considering that it was coming from the head of state. Munyinda said given the government’s inconsistencies, it could no longer be relied upon to deliver on the people’s demands.

She said President Mwanawasa lacks the political will over the constitution-making process.

“When it suited them, they were able to hold unnecessary costly by-elections and even create a new ministry,” she said.

She said the women movement would not allow continued abuse of human rights in the name of culture, increase women and children’s death rate, poverty and continued unaccountability in the public service.

Mweemba said Oasis Forum would make public President Mwanawasa’s letter after their response.

Labels: CONSTITUTION, CRC, NGOCC, OASIS FORUM

posted by MrK @ 4:17 AM