Maravi

Chifumu reminds NCC delegates of deadline

Chifumu reminds NCC delegates of deadline
By Mwala Kalaluka
Fri 09 Apr. 2010, 04:01 CAT

NATIONAL Constitutional Conference (NCC) chairperson Chifumu Banda on Wednesday reminded delegates that on August 31, 2010 the NCC would be no more.

During consideration, confirmation and adoption of various NCC committee reports, Banda said the failure by some delegates to take the conference’s work seriously had led the NCC to being showered with unfair criticism.

After handing down a warning to one of the delegates, Dante Saunders, following what was described as a negative and discomforting statement he made on Radio Phoenix on the work of the NCC, Banda presided over the presentation of various motions to adopt some committee reports.

The reports that came for consideration were those from the democratic governance committee chaired by Stanley Mhango, the executive committee chaired by Michael Mabenga, the legislative committee chaired by Mutale Nalumango, the local government committee chaired by Solomon Muzyamba and the human rights committee chaired by Enoch Mulembi.

Moving a motion to confirm and consider the articles that the House adopted from the democratic governance committee, Mhango said the committee operated on 29 terms of reference.

Mhango said 20 articles were adopted as they were in the Mung’omba draft constitution while eight articles were adopted with amendments.

Mhango said the article on the election of a Republican president through the 50 per cent plus one threshold was referred to a referendum after the NCC failed to reach consensus.

“I now request the NCC to adopt the report of democratic governance committee as amended,” Mhango said.

Banda said the report of the committee had been circulated before the NCC adjourned in February and there was no need to go clause by clause during the consideration.

Alfred Mudenda proposed the adoption of the report and Bishop Joshua Banda seconded it and there was no counterproposal.

Following the adoption of the report, Mhango said the decisions was a clear indication of the commitment of the members of the NCC in ensuring that the views of the Zambian people were reflected in the new constitution.

Mhango said he could safely say that out of everything that the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) had been advocating for in terms of electoral law reform, 99 per cent had seen the light of day through the adoption.

However, the report and the presentation of a motion on the confirmed adoption of the report of the executive committee was deferred after some delegates complained that they had not had an opportunity to read through the document.

Mabenga said the executive committee had 36 terms of reference falling under Part nine of the constitution.

“19 articles were adopted without amendment as recommended by Mung’omba,” he said. “10 were adopted with amendments.”

Mabenga said five articles were deleted and replaced by others while one new article was introduced by the general conference.

He said another article that was recommended under the Mung’omba draft was referred to a referendum after the committee referred it to the general conference.

But the adoption confirmation could not proceed after all the delegates said they had not read the report as it had just been distributed.

“Those documents were distributed as you were reporting yesterday,” Banda said as the delegates disagreed. “In the name of democracy and to allow those that are keen to read the report tonight, we will defer recommendation of this report.”

On the report of the local government committee, Muzyamba said the committee worked on 37 terms of reference and that from that number five articles were adopted as presented while 12 articles were adopted with amendments.

He said 14 articles were deleted and six articles were harmonised with similar provisions in the current constitution.

When it came to the adoption of the report, one delegate suggested that Banda should read the report clause by clause during consideration because some of them had left their copies.

“Let us not postpone decision making. That is why we get unfair criticism,” Banda said.

He said the delegates had been given enough time to read and that all of them were expected to come with their copies of the report.

“This is not a kindergarten. You are expected to bring the report as responsible members of the NCC. This is why we are showered with unfair criticism. We know what we are here for,” said Banda. “On 31st August 2010 there is no NCC, let’s move.”

Labels: CHIFUMU BANDA, DANTE SAUNDERS, NCC, STANLEY MHANGO

posted by MrK @ 3:06 PM