Maravi

Politicians shouldn't be trusted with constitution, says Mususu

Politicians shouldn't be trusted with constitution, says Mususu
By Patson Chilemba
Wednesday August 29, 2007 [04:00]

President Levy Mwanawasa's worry over the ignorance of his ministers on the Constitution goes to show that politicians should not be trusted with the constitution-making process, Oasis Forum acting spokesperson Bishop Paul Mususu (left) said yesterday. Commenting on President Mwanawasa’s statement on Monday that there was too much ignorance on the Constitution, and it saddened him that the majority of those ignorant were his ministers, Bishop Mususu said President Mwanawasa had vindicated the Oasis Forum's call that politicians should not guide the constitution-making process.

He said ministers voted blindly to pass the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) Bill because they did not know what they were doing.

"That is straight; it speaks for itself because our rallying point has been that it should be people driven. He is vindicating us because that is the thing we are against, that politicians should drive the process. We've been manipulated. Why should we even allow Parliament to do things for us when he says his ministers are ignorant?" Bishop Mususu wondered. "That's why they were able to vote for it because they didn't know. The very ignorant people he is talking about are the ones who voted for that Bill."

Bishop Mususu wondered why President Mwanawasa entrusted the people he described as ignorant with the constitution-making process.

On Monday, President Mwanawasa urged his ministers to be conversant with the Constitution if they are to defend him when attacked. And works and supply minister Kapembwa Simbao said President Mwanawasa was justified in saying what he said. Simbao said President Mwanawasa had the right to say whatever he felt comfortable to say.

“He’s right. He’s got the right to say if that’s how he thinks. If the boss feels comfortable then he will say,” Simbao said. “He’s right, he’s got a lot of us and we must give him the confidence that we understand these things.”

Finance deputy minister Jonas Shakafuswa said people would judge whether or not he was ignorant on the issue of the Constitution. Shakafuswa, who was reluctant to comment on the issue, said if he was ignorant on the Constitution, then he was definitely an embarrassment to President Mwanawasa.

“It’s also an embarrassment to those ministers who are ignorant because it means that they have got positions but they are not doing enough to defend them,” he said.
However, Shakafuswa said he worked with justice minister George Kunda on the National Constitutional Conference Bill therefore he knew what was involved.

“It was just a few of us who took time to find out what the Constitution was and its provisions. There are people that just put windbreaks to their knowledge,” Shakafuswa said. “We need to read widely whatever we engage ourselves in. It isn’t just a matter of having honourable tags. It’s work. I don’t want to judge myself. Other people will judge me. Even on my ignorance we will see how much I have contributed to the Constitution. The people can judge whether I’m ignorant or not.”

And Shakafuswa said some people leading the MMD had questionable characters and needed to evaluate their contributions to the party. He said some were just working for prestige and monetary gain.

“Some people just want to be eating. You join politics to serve, not to chew,” said Shakafuswa.

Meanwhile, community and social services minister Catherine Namugala said President Mwanawasa was the appointing authority and that he spoke of ministers’ ignorance from a point of understanding.

“If he feels ministers are ignorant then he knows what he’s talking about,” said Namugala.

Commerce deputy minister Dora Siliya said President Mwanawasa was not talking about ministers alone but other people like journalists also. Labour minister Ronald Mukuma said he could not comment because he was on leave and out of touch with most issues that were happening.

Sports deputy minister Angela Cifire refused to comment. When contacted for comment, science and technology minister Peter Daka responded: “Patson Chilemba, how much do you know about the Constitution yourself?” However, Daka said he was officiating in Kabwe and would only get back to this reporter later.

Labels: CONSTITUTION, NCC

posted by MrK @ 3:20 AM