Maravi

NCC was a disaster, says Rev Matale

NCC was a disaster, says Rev Matale
By Moses Kuwema
Sat 25 June 2011, 04:01 CAT

THE Council of Churches in Zambia says it is a shame that the constitution-making process ended up the way it did and taking it back to Parliament in its current form is unacceptable because it remained rejected.

In an interview, CCZ general secretary Reverend Suzanne Matale said the issue of the constitution had been very disrespectful of the people's wishes and urged political parties, which are contesting this year's elections to make the Republican Constitution a campaign issue.

“...I think if you look back, the Zambian people had said they wanted a constitution that would be comprehensive, a constitution that would act like a development tool towards the economic liberation of people so that we can see our way to prosperity,” said Rev Matale.

She said the church was clear from the onset of the constitution-making process that they wanted the social and economic rights to be included.

She said anything short of that would not represent the people's constitution because every human being was entitled to basic things of life such as housing, water, food, clothing and education.

“We want this to be a campaign issue, we want to hear from the politicians how they are going to go about the constitution-making process when they get into power in the next few months. For us it is not about any party.

It is about the dignity of the people of Zambia,” Rev Matale said. “We know of countries where the constitution has been put together over a very short period of time and at less costs than it has cost the Zambian people.”

Rev Matale said the amount of money that was spent on the NCC was a disaster because those funds would have been utilised in a better way.

“For the constitution-making process to end up the way it did is a shame to the Zambian people. It is still not acceptable for the constitution to be taken back to Parliament in its current form, it remains rejected. It remains their (government) constitution and not the people's constitution,” said Rev Matale.

Labels: CCZ, NCC, SUZANNE MATALE

posted by MrK @ 7:53 PM