Maravi

JCTR asks govt to review composition of APRM NGC

JCTR asks govt to review composition of APRM NGC
Written by Kabanda Chulu and Katwishi Bwalya
Thursday, January 08, 2009 2:04:56 AM

JCTR has challenged the government to review the composition of the National Governing Council (NGC) of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), saying it is not representative of major stakeholders in the country.

And the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Church Social Teaching programme officer Dominic Liche has observed that having Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika (Aka), who is an active politician, as chairperson of the APRM will jeopardise the integrity of the process.

But justice deputy minister Todd Chilembo has said the government will not remove political advisor to the President Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika from the APRM as he would still remain a member of the process.

Reviewing the progress made since Zambia signed the APRM process in 2006, Liche stated that JCTR, together with other Civil Society Organisations working on the APRM through the Civil Society APRM Secretariat had highlighted how the process could be made more effective.

“We repeat our concerns here, especially on the nature and composition of the NGC, a body that oversees the whole APRM process. These concerns include, that the number of members on the NGC, which is 47, is too large and not representative of major civil society and church groups and that the way the chairperson of the NGC was selected was contrary to the APRM guiding principles and examples from pioneer countries that have gone through the APRM process,” Liche stated.

“Also having a chairperson [Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika] who is an active politician can very easily jeorpadise the integrity of the process and that the conditions of members of the NGC is associated with huge costs (K500,000 per person per sitting) that can easily raise controversies similar to those relating to the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) and that there is lack of gender balance with only 11 women and that there is government dominance in the NGC, making voting almost always biased.”

Liche stated that the concerns raised should be considered and addressed even if it meant disbanding the NGC for a smaller NGC, which would be more representative.

“Sometimes there is a myth that a fully representative body must be a big one, but it is possible to have a smaller NGC that is really representative of key stakeholders as is the example of Ghana's NGC because it will be will be a waste of resources to have a process that will not really work for Zambia due to government dominance and political interests,” stated Liche. “It is disappointing that despite raising these concerns through the media and communication with the APRM Focal Point (Ministry of Justice), no adequate response has been given to our concerns. We want to see an APRM that is effective, transparent and inclusive with more education of the citizens on the process by government.”

But during a briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Chilembo said the government still needed the services of Aka who he said was a civil servant.

He said Aka would remain an ordinary member while Tamala Kambikambi would take up the position of chairperson for the APRM.

“Government has decided to appoint Mrs Tamala Kambikambi, former chairperson of the African Peer Review Mechanism National Governing Council as the new chairperson replacing Mr Akashambatwa who has taken up another national duty, but continues as an ordinary member,” said Chilembo.

“The new vice chairperson is Philip Chilomo. In line with Cabinet’s earlier decision, the National Governing Council will continue to locally oversee the implementation of the APRM. Government also has intentions of reducing the number of members on the APRM from 47.”

Labels: AKASHAMBATWA MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA, APRM, JCTR

posted by MrK @ 2:06 AM