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Consider cries for new constitution before 2011 polls – Shakafuswa

Consider cries for new constitution before 2011 polls – Shakafuswa
By Mwala Kalaluka
Thu 25 Mar. 2010, 04:01 CAT

KATUBA MMD member of parliament Jonas Shakafuswa has said people that want the constitution-making process to be tied to the 2011 general elections should also be heard.

But Vice-President George Kunda said parliamentarians are the only genuine representatives of the people who have been authorised to make laws on behalf of the citizens.

During debate on the National Constitutional Conference (Amendment) Bill that passed through second reading in Parliament on Tuesday, Shakafuswa said those crying for a new constitution before the 2011 polls should be heard because they had a point.

“The cry out there, there are people who feel previously there have been manipulations with the way elections have been held. For those they have to be heard as well. They have a point,” Shakafuswa said. “We can come here and change the electoral Act so that when we go into competition, it will be like an examination.”

Shakafuswa said if the entire constitution could not be tabled before the House before next year’s elections, then a bill looking at the electoral Act should be tabled.

“I know some deliberations are open to manipulation,” Shakafuswa said. “These are cheap ways of getting cheap opinion. It is always better to listen to what the people say.”

Shakafuswa said the constitution- making process was not owned by anyone in the House but the Zambian people.

“We are only here as the representatives of the Zambian people,” Shakafuswa said. “When we get out of here, we must not look at someone of being an enemy.”

Earlier, Sinda FDD parliamentarian Levy Ngoma, amidst cheers from the MMD side of the chamber, said the constitution-making process should not be tailored for the 2011 elections.

Mapatizya UPND parliamentarian Ackson Sejani asked Vice-President Kunda to explain what the fate of the people’s expected submissions on the constitution would be.

“The issue is what happens to the product of that consultation? What is the fate of what people will say?” Sejani asked. “How different is this consultation now from previous consultations?”

Sejani said the Mung’omba Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) was a process in consultation but that the critical content of that process was swallowed by Article 13 of the principal (NCC) Act.

He cited the 50 per cent plus one, the presidential running mate and press freedom as core issues that needed to be included in the new constitution.

“This time around, the people of Zambia will be heard,” Sejani said. “If we do not listen to the people, the controversy surrounding the constitution-making process in Zambia will continue.”

But Vice-President Kunda said the vision of the government was not to prolong the constitution review process.

“By the way, when we say the people, do we mean the majority or the minority? When we talk about the 50 per cent plus one and other issues. The majority rejected the 50 per cent plus one,” said Sejani. “The majority of the people are represented here by the elected representatives.”

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, 50 PERCENT PLUS 1, ACKSON SEJANI, CONSTITUTION, GEORGE KUNDA, JONAS SHAKAFUSWA, NCC

posted by MrK @ 2:23 PM