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Munkombwe backs calls to extend NCC mandate

Munkombwe backs calls to extend NCC mandate
Written by Patson Chilemba
Monday, December 08, 2008 11:46:52 PM

SOUTHERN Province minister Daniel Munkombwe yesterday said calls to extend the mandate of the National Constitution Conference (NCC) are genuine.

Commenting on the NCC secretariat's proposal to the general purposes committee of the NCC asking for the extension of the constitution-making body's mandate by 12 months from next year to 2010, Munkombwe said the constitution-making process was delayed partly because of the October 30 presidential elections. He said if the experts felt that NCC should be extended, he would support such moves.

"What we are supposed to do is to do a good job. If experts think that we can't do a good job because of elections, and think it's prudent to extend, I think it will be right. I will support them. The country needs to have a good constitution that will stand a test of time but if we rush it then I don't know," Munkombwe said.

"I think that they did that because the programme was interrupted because of elections. I think it is genuine because of the interruption through the elections and everybody was eager to have elections. And because of the eating up of time, I think it's only right that if experts feel that we extend, they do so. That is my personal position but there is a government spokesperson Lieutenant General [Ronnie] Shikapwasha to give a government position."

According to a letter submitted to the General Purposes Committee on November 17, 2008, the secretariat stated that the NCC Act, No.19 of 2007 came into effect on September 10, 2007 and that the Conference shall complete its work within a period of 12 months from the commencement of the Act or such longer period as the President may specify by Statutory Instrument.

The secretariat stated that this meant that from September 10, 2007, any day that Parliament was not sitting was counted against the 12-months period.

Labels: CORRUPTION, DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, NCC

posted by MrK @ 11:46 PM