Only pressure will make Levy bow - Bishop Mumbi

Only pressure will make Levy bow - Bishop Mumbi
By Nomusa Michelo
Monday May 28, 2007 [04:00]

ONLY pressure will make President Levy Mwanawasa bow to the people's wish for a constituent assembly, Luapula Anglican Bishop Robert Mumbi has said. In an interview, Bishop Mumbi called on all Zambians to rise and have their voices heard over the constituent assembly. He said the agenda of establishing a constituent assembly should not be seen as being driven by civil society leaders but by the people themselves.

"Let people come out and say 'we want a constituent assembly' so that leaders of civil society organisations are not accused of talking on behalf of the people with their own agenda," he said. "People have to start moving now. President Mwanawasa will only listen when we put pressure on him. We have to pressurise him for a constituent assembly and it has to be done now."

And Bishop Mumbi said it was unfortunate the President Mwanawasa had decided to go against the people of Zambia over their desire for a constituent assembly as the mode of adopting the new constitution.

"It is unfortunate that the President is going the way he is going. He asked the people to give their views and the people said they want to adopt the constitution through a constituent assembly and he is now saying he will not support it," Bishop Mumbi said. "He is leading the people of Zambia who elected him, now if he is going to vote against the constituent assembly he will be voting against the people who put him into power. The most important thing for him to do is to listen to the people."

Bishop Mumbi also said there is need for a new constitution which should be enacted as soon as possible. President Mwanawasa last week said he would vote against the constituent assembly.