Maravi

Oasis Forum declares war against Mwanawasa

Oasis Forum declares war against Mwanawasa
By Brighton Phiri
Monday April 16, 2007 [04:00]

The Oasis Forum has declared a constitutional war against President Mwananwasa over the constitution making process. According to an Oasis Forum communiqué released on Saturday after stakeholders’ consultative meeting, the Oasis Form resolved to embark on countrywide activities, which were aimed at increasing civil pressure on President Mwanawasa’s administration.

"We the people gathered here at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre this 14th day of April 2007 at the Oasis Forum Stakeholders' Constitutional Review Process meeting resolve: We acknowledge various efforts made by the Oasis Forum in engaging government in dialogue. Government has proved that it cannot be relied upon to deliver on the Constitution.

We resolve that the present 1996 Constitution is inadequate, defective, oppressive and has become altogether suffocating and a source of conflict and confrontation in our land and needs to be completely repealed and a new one put in place urgently," read the communiqué in part. "We unanimously resolve to adopt the Oasis Forum Road Map, which seeks to deliver a new constitution in 71 weeks effective 14 the April 2007 and hereby declare "Constitutional Struggle".

The conveners of the Oasis Forum were tasked to spearhead and co-opt other stakeholders in coming up with countrywide measures of civil pressure.

"We urge the political leadership in the country, across the political divide, particularly members of parliament, traditional leaders, labour leaders, students leadership and other stakeholders to rise to the occasion by joining the people of Zambia in this noble cause," read the communiqué.

The Oasis Forum demanded that President Mwanawasa immediately summons the National Assembly to a special sitting that would pass the constituent assembly Bill.
The Oasis Forum urged all Zambians regardless of ethnicity, political affiliations, race, or geographical location and the differently abled to stand up and give themselves a new constitution.

Earlier, former UNZASU president Antonio Mwanza said Zambians were paying for their docility. "To fear to make a mistake is a mistake in itself," Mwanza said.

He reminded the gathering that revolutions that had occurred were not led by politicians. "With the childish debate in the National Assembly, there is no hope for a better constitution coming from that House," he said. "Perhaps the Oasis Forum must change its strategy."

Women for Change executive director Emily Sikazwe said Zambians would not allow the politicians to use the constitution as a political tool to sustain their existence in public offices.

Former Copperbelt University Students' union president Emmanuel Mwange called for a constitution 'jihad' to enable President Mwanawasa bow to the people's aspirations.
"The people's resilience and militancy can produce results for us," he said.

Oasis Forum member Bob Sichinga advised the forum to be cautious when dealing with the National Assembly because MMD enjoyed the majority vote.

"We may give the members of parliament a new constitution to enact, but they might choose to go by President Mwanawasa's way and make alterations to our document," Sichinga said.

Oasis Forum chairperson William Mweemba said people had the powers to impeach their members of parliament if they failed to respect their directives.

Opposition UPND president Hakainde Hichilema urged Zambians to emulate the founding parents' demonstration of their unity of purpose.

"We saw it before independence and in 2001, we saw unity of purpose among Zambians in their quest to stop the third term bid," he said.

Hichilema called for the reduction of presidential powers in order to prevent the executive's interference in the constitution making process. He cited reports of abuse of public funds, as some of the products of excessive presidential powers.
"The President decides who to prosecute and when to prosecute," he said.

Prominent Lusaka lawyer Dr Ngosa Simbyakula said the current Constitution could not limit the people's desire for a new constitution.

"You will note that the existing Constitution does not provide for its destruction or provision for the new constitution," he said.

Another Law Association of Zambia member Musa Mwenya said Oasis Forum's relationship with President Mwanawasa was characterised by deceit.
"There has been no honesty...it is just full of deceit," Mwenya said.

He said it was clear that the government had lost leadership over the constitution-making process.

Gender activist Sarah Longwe asked Oasis Forum to reorganise itself and inspire the people in their struggle for a new constitution.

"I know we Zambians are cowards but with your leadership, we can achieve our desire for a new constitution," she said.

Women in Law in Southern Africa (Wilsa) executive director Matrine Chulu asked the Oasis Forum to mobilise a social revolution around the constitution-making process.

Labels: CONSTITUTION, EMILY SIKAZWE, LAZ, OASIS FORUM

posted by MrK @ 3:53 AM