Maravi

NCC resumes sitting this afternoon

NCC resumes sitting this afternoon
By Kombe Chimpinde
Tue 10 Aug. 2010, 14:00 CAT

The National Constitution Conference (NCC) delegates will this afternoon resume sitting in Lusaka to take a look at the public submissions and recommendations made to the draft constitution.

This follows an end to the 40-day period allowed for the general public, civil society organisations and the church mother bodies to review the document and submit comments as the country looks to adopt a new constitution.

There have been repeated calls by the public for government to consider amending the NCC statutory instrument in order to give sufficient time to citizens to study the draft constitution.

NCC chairman Chifumu Banda conceded that there was not sufficient time for thorough public scrutiny of the draft constitution but said the law demanded that the document be submitted to the Ministry of Justice on August 31, 2010.

During this one week period, delegates are expected to analyse the submissions and recommendations.

Among the issues expected to take center stage, is the 50 per cent plus one threshold clause that seeks to overrule the simple majority principle in a presidential election, the degree clause which places a degree as the minimum education qualification for one to run for president, as well as the bill of rights.

The last constitution review process was in 1996, but it did not meet people’s expectations as more than 50 per cent of the recommendations were rejected.

Labels: NCC

posted by MrK @ 5:38 PM