Maravi

We'll give MMD a good run at NCC, says HH

We'll give MMD a good run at NCC, says HH
By Brighton Phiri and Sandra Mulowa
Monday December 10, 2007 [03:01]

We shall give MMD a good run in the constitutional conference, opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema said yesterday. And Hichilema said the three Church mother bodies’ boycotting of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) was justifiable. Announcing his party's decision to participate in the NCC, Hichilema said his party was determined to take on the ruling MMD on constitutional issues in the constitutional conference.

"WE want to give them a good run in the NCC. We will carry the fight into the NCC," Hichilema said. "Our troops (members of parliament and councillors) are under instructions. They will fight to the bitter end in the interest of our people."

Hichilema said his party condemned the MMD government for arrogantly deciding to go ahead with the NCC without amending the NCC Act to address various concerns raised by the stakeholders in the constitution- making process.

"If we had the opportunity to govern, we could have not proceeded without the broad participation of the stakeholders. We have had discussions with those boycotting and they have justified reasons," he said.

Hichilema said at the NCC, the UPND would fight for nothing less than among other issues, that the Republican president should be elected by 50 per cent plus one of the valid votes, the election date should be enshrined in the constitution, the Electoral Commission should be independent, the Chief Justice should not be the presiding officer for the presidential elections, mixed proportional representations should be introduced and that defecting members of parliament should not be allowed to re-contest their seats.

Other issues are that there should be no piecemeal amendments to the Constitution, economic and social rights should be enshrined in the constitution, the Bill of Rights should be amended, freedom of information and press freedom should be guaranteed by the constitution and funding of political parties from public resources.

Hichilema expressed disappointment with President Mwanawasa's failure to respond to his party's letter through which they asked him to bring on board most of those that had threatened to boycott the NCC.

"On October 9, we wrote President Mwanawasa a letter. There was no response. We wrote him another letter on November 18, and he has not responded to it too. This shows how self-centred the MMD leadership is," he said.

In his letter dated October 9, Hichilema stated that it would be a setback if some key stakeholders that had for a long time been active in seeking a people-driven constitution were to stay out of the process.

"This critical question that faces the nation, therefore, is whether the country can continue with this process and end up with a strong and respected constitution that the people want if some of the key organisations stay away from the process," read the letter in part. "It is our party's considered view that a conference that is viewed to be non-inclusive by some significant stakeholders such as the Church mother bodies having its overall legitimacy taken away."

Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, NCC, UPND

posted by MrK @ 5:42 AM