Maravi

Zambia can be region's role model - Schaller'

Zambia can be region's role model - Schaller'
By Bright Mukwasa
Wed 27 June 2012, 13:23 CAT

A VISITING US political professor says Zambia has the potential to remain a role model regarding the ongoing constitution-making process. Many countries and notable individuals praised Zambia for holding a free and generally incident-free election last September that saw the election of President Michael Sata.

During a youth leaders dialogue presented at the United States Embassy in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Thomas Schaller, a professor of political science at the University of Maryland, said Zambia had the potential to deliver a good constitution, especially if it embraced inclusiveness.

"The constitution should not only be of importance for now, but for the future," he said. "Zambia has the potential to remain as a role model of the region. The whole world is watching for you to be a role model for the region, but of course it's not easy."

Dr Schaller said it was necessary to ensure the constitution-making process had procedural as well as outcome legitimacy.

He said it was important that the technical committee drafting the constitution allowed as many views as possible from diverse groups with varying interests.

Dr Schaller also said undue political influence should also be avoided in order to deliver a "generally acceptable constitution".

He also said it was easier now for people tasked with constitution-making processes in various countries to communicate with the masses in view of emerging new forms of media, unlike in the past and urged Zambian youth to actively take part in the ongoing reforms.

Dr Schaller is a twice-monthly political columnist for the Baltimore Sun, a regular contributor to a variety of outlets and he has published print or online commentaries in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The American Prospect, Politico, Salon, The Boston Globe, and the New York Daily News.

posted by MrK @ 3:52 PM