Maravi

We won't change position on constitution, says Levy

We won't change position on constitution, says Levy
By Brighton Phiri in Mazabuka
Wednesday September 19, 2007 [04:00]

WE shall not change our position on the constitution-making process even if the Oasis Forum decides to move naked, President Mwanawasa declared yesterday. On arrival at Nakambala stadium before officially launching the Nakambala project under the Zambia Sugar Company Plc, President Mwanawasa reminded the Oasis Forum that it was formed to fight former president Chiluba's attempt to go for a third term.

"I was expecting the Oasis Forum to support me on my anti corruption crusade. I have not heard them condemn those who are accused of committing the vices. I have not heard them condemn corruption as a concept that it is wrong," he said.

"They have been dead silent. You know that there is a London judgment where US$58 million was taken by Frederick Chiluba. Now this is the man who has taken money for himself instead of using it to help the poor and this is the man who the Oasis Forum has invited as their advisor and consultant over the constitution.

As far as we are concerned, they can do what they want. They can even move naked. We will not change the way we are moving on the constitution making process."

President Mwanawasa said this is not the first time the Oasis Forum had boycotted the national initiative. He said the government had made concessions but the opposition had continued to change goal posts. President Mwanawasa said MMD would not change goal posts over the constitution review process.

He wondered why the Oasis Forum had continued to oppose him even after accepting their demand for the National Constitutional Conference chairman and his vice to be elected by the conference.

However, President Mwanawasa admitted that his government did not accept the civil society's demand to accept the inclusion of the social and economic rights in the Constitution because it was not feasible.

He said the government had instituted the NCC to chart the way forward.
He said the Oasis Forum had gone round asking people to boycott and were the same people championing the same recommendations.

"I am saying to all those who boycotted the CRC to keep quiet," he said.
President Mwanawasa described his critics who opposed him as unpatriotic.
"I am saying that you are unpatriotic and that you are not fit to walk on the streets of Zambia," he said.

President Mwanawasa said he had made a number of concessions in an effort to accommodate the opposition parties but to his surprise, each time they made those concessions, the opposition changed goal posts.

President Mwanawasa warned Zambians against contributing towards making Zambia unstable. Earlier, Southern Province MMD chairman Daniel Munkombwe paraded UPND officials, among them Syacheye Madyenkunku, saying opposition UPND had crumbled.

Labels: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY, OASIS FORUM

posted by MrK @ 3:50 AM