Maravi

PF to meet over NCC

PF to meet over NCC
By Bivan Saluseki and Nomusa Michelo
Tuesday October 02, 2007 [04:00]

Opposition Patriotic Front will this week convene an extra-ordinary full central committee meeting to decide if its members of parliament can participate in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC). Meanwhile, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) executive director Bishop Paul Mususu has called on civil society organisations to continue mounting pressure on the government to withdraw the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) Act.

The meeting has been slated for this Saturday, October 6.
The party’s secretary general Edward Mumbi yesterday confirmed that the meeting would resolve the issue of members of parliament’s participation or non-participation in the NCC.

“As at now, PF is not participating in the NCC process so even those sponsored by the party will not participate,” he warned.

Currently, there are reported pockets of resistance from some PF members of parliament who want to defy the party’s ban on participation in the NCC process.

But Mumbi said the issue would be resolved at the meeting but for now, everyone was bound by the party’s decision.
He said the government had not listened to major stakeholders, which included civil society.

“The Constitution does not belong to politicians only. The Zambian populace has not been given an opportunity to participate,” said Mumbi.

And Bishop Mususu said it is not too late to continue mounting pressure on government over the NCC.

“This may be different from the boycotting of the CRC (Constitution Review Commission). What is at stake for government is an illegitimate product. Something that people will not respect, is that worth spending money on? he asked.

“So we feel that we need to pressurise government even now, it is not too late. I’m sure President (Levy) Mwanawasa within his means and rights and also for his sake and benefit will withdraw the NCC law and we can try to build consensus.”

Bishop Mususu said if the government decides to go ahead with the NCC, the country would end up amending the Constitution again.
“We are where we are now because (former president Frederick) Chiluba didn’t listen.

He went ahead and he would not listen,” he said. “We will end up where we are again if President Mwanawasa doesn’t listen to the people. Hopefully we have a listening president that will deliver what people want.”

And Local Government Association of Zambia president Charles Mumena has said participation on the NCC was the best thing that had ever happened to the association.

Welcoming Cabinet Office’s invitation for his association to nominate representatives to the NCC, Mumena yesterday said independence for local government from political machinations would only be guaranteed by adequately securing it in the constitution.

Labels: EFZ, NCC

posted by MrK @ 5:33 AM