Miyanda accuses govt of deception over draft constitution

Miyanda accuses govt of deception over draft constitution
By Chibaula Silwamba
Mon 12 July 2010, 13:20 CAT

BRIGADIER General Godfrey Miyanda has charged that it is deceptive for the government to give Zambians a 40-day period to comment on the draft constitution when in fact they knew all along that they never meant to follow it. In a press statement, Brig Gen Miyanda stated that President Rupiah Banda must see his team’s cheating and deception in broad daylight.

“Last Friday, Vice-President George angrily told Parliament that there will be no extension to their self-imposed 40-day review period given to the public. He declared that the process ‘has been going on for too long and we have to move on with a new constitution’ and added that ‘the NCC National Constitutional Conference will decide whether to make substantial amendments as NCC or whether to take the entire constitution to a referendum’,” Brig Gen Miyanda stated.

He stated that Vice-President Kunda’s retort to Katuba parliamentarian Jonas Shakafuswa’s legitimate question suggested that the government might have a pre-determined position on the matter.

“The response demonstrates how insensitive the government has become and how Zambians are being taken for granted. The review period was announced with fanfare by NCC chairman Chifumu Banda before even the relevant documents were dispatched to the districts. Both chairman Banda and the Vice President are members of the NCC and Parliament,” said Brig Gen Miyanda, a former Vice-President.

“A few days ago, the NCC proudly announced the belated dispatch of only 9, 000 draft copies to all districts, long after the 40-day clock had begun to tick; the NCC further announced that they are yet to print 20, 000 more copies. The promised translation into local languages has not been done. It is also reported that Braille copies had not been distributed at the time of the Vice-President’s announcement.”

He noted that it was clear that the views of people that do not understand English or the law did not matter to this government.

“In view of the non-extension, must money be wasted on printing more copies? It seems the NCC and the Vice-President expect villagers to trek to district offices and gather at one place to read together, assisted by questionable interpreters.

Since many have no internet facilities, to beat the deadline, they will convey their resolutions by shouting in union from all corners of Zambia to the Vice-President ‘sir, we have now finished!’” Miyanda stated.

“Nobody forced the government to allocate the 40 days; no one forced the NCC to undertake to translate the documents. Even President Banda must surely see this cheating and deception in broad daylight by his team. So, he must just instruct his Vice-President to go ahead and announce the government’s predetermined position.”

Brig Gen Miyanda questioned the motive of the government and NCC to grant a period for people to comment on the draft constitution.

“Is it to leave a paper trail that they had given citizens a chance to comment on the drafts? In any case, why base the decision to write a so-called new constitution on the date of an election? What or which guides or follow the other, the constitution or an election?

Must we write a constitution because of an election? This confusion between the government and the NCC shows that the constitution is not a problem; the big problem is not knowing what the problem is,” Brig Gen Miyanda stated.

“This government must desist from their tendency to mortgage Zambia for selfish and unpatriotic interest only beneficial to them and and their shylocks.”

He stated that now that Vice-President Kunda had slammed the door in the face of Zambians, President Banda should instruct him Kunda announce when Zambians would comment on the defence and security of Zambia and other contentious issues.

“Remember that the Mung’omba Constitutional Review Commission held secret sessions with service personnel and have never published those submissions. We urge President Banda to compel his Vice-President to finish distributing the documents and then announce the period for comment,” stated Brig Gen Miyanda stated.