No need for ultimatums over the constitution - Shamenda
By Abel Mboozi
Fri 13 Sep. 2013, 14:01 CAT
THERE is no need for anybody to give the government ultimatums on the constitution-making process which is on course, says Fackson Shamenda.
Shamenda, who is acting chief government spokesperson, said in Lusaka that the issue of the constitution was important, thus stakeholders should learn to engage the government over the same.
"Giving the government ultimatums and running through the back door over this important national issue is unreasonable," Shamenda said in reaction to demands by a coalition of civil society organisations claiming that the exercise has been prolonged unnecessarily.
Shamenda said the previous government made various attempts to review the constitution but nothing tangible came out.
"We have only been in power for two years but we have reached an advanced stage over the constitution review process. People should therefore not derail us with ultimatums," he said.
Shamenda said the government wanted to mould a better constitution that would stand a test of time and it was doing so in a transparent manner.
He said there was no need for anybody to panic over the constitution-making process because the PF government was determined to accord Zambians a better constitution.
On Tuesday, Beatrice Grillo, who spoke on behalf of the civil society coalition, said it was unacceptable that for 17 years, Zambia had continued to battle with the issue of the constitution review process.
"As civil society, we are dismayed by the prolonged delay in finalising the constitution review process. We still believe this work would have been finalised by now had government premised this important task on a clear and well thought out roadmap," she said.
Grillo said the civil society expected the government to priotise the drafting process and deliver to the public a second draft constitution by September 30, 2013.
She said the coalition had resolved not to allow fragmentation of civil society voice to make it easier for those in power to divide, rule, manipulate and weaken them.
"We vow to remain united for the sake of all Zambians because the constitution is food on the table for every citizen. A people-driven constitution delivers economic and social liberty for all. It's a liberation and good governance tool," she said.
Grillo said the government must come out in the open on the issue of the referendum.
"As civil society, we still stand by our position that the referendum will be the best mode of adopting this important national document," said Grillo.
Labels: BEATRICE GRILLO, CONSTITUTION, FACKSON SHAMENDA
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Defeats won't stop opposition from questioning govt - Simbao
By Allan Mulenga and Kombe Chimpinde
Fri 12 July 2013, 14:00 CAT
LOSING in Parliament will not stop the opposition from questioning the government on its policies, says Kapembwa Simbao.
But Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) chairperson Beatrice Grillo says the bill which sought to compel the government to reinstate maize and subsidies would not have failed if the country had a strong opposition.
Commenting on the opposition's defeat to the PF on the reinstatement of subsidies in Parliament on Wednesday, Simbao, who is MMD national secretary and Senga Hill member of parliament, said the opposition knew that they were going to lose, but took the motion to Parliament in the interest of the nation.
"Losing we shall lose, that is not the issue. The issue is to let people know the wrongs that are happening. But losing we shall lose we know that and even yesterday (Wednesday) we knew we were going to lose. But we want to let people know what is happening because we don't believe what they have done is right," he said.
Simbao accused the PF of taking Zambians backwards by removal of subsidies on fuel and maize consumption.
"We want to touch on things that can see MMD being understood properly than what has happened so far. The issue we brought out in Parliament yesterday is something that we really believe in irrespective of what the government is saying. What already was given should have been allowed to stay than taking the people backwards," he said.
"All what they have done is to go back to 1994 or so when MMD again withdrew subsidies and people went in quandary; in terrible poverty."
Simbao wondered why government officials were issuing contradictory statements on the removed fuel and maize.
"These people they don't seem to understand what they are doing in this case of removing subsidies. Initially, they told us that it will go to infrastructure, and then Dr Guy Scott started talking of balancing the budget. They don't seem to know exactly what is happening. The fact is that they are not making collections of what they intended to collect per quarter or so. They are panicking because they have already virtually spent all the money," said Simbao.
"If you heard what Dr Scott told us in Parliament is that they were not going to stop these by-elections until they get the numbers because the opposition is not willing to work with them. If they expect the opposition to work with them to remove subsidies from people, then that is wrong. In that case they go on winning these by-elections until they get their numbers while the opposition will just get nothing."
On Wednesday, Parlia-ment voted against the reinstatement of fuel and maize consumption subsidies.
The motion, which was moved by Solwezi Central MMD member of parliament Lucky Mulusa, attracted heated debate from both the opposition and the ruling party.
And Grillo said it was saddening that the opposition's bill to reinstate subsidies was defeated in Parliament.
She said NGOCC felt that the government should have consulted the Zambians before taking the action and also provided safety nets for the poor.
"Now people are spending about K70 for a bag of mealie, rentals have gone up. We appreciate the rationale behind the removal of the subsidies but even in countries in which governments are removing subsidies, they have provided safety nets. Our appeal to government remains that to review its social schemes targeted at alleviating poverty," Grillo said.
Grillo said that high poverty levels had continued to affect the development progress in the country.
He said that NGOCC felt that there were other alternatives through which enough funds to build infrastructure could be raised other than removing subsidies.
Grillo also said that there was lack of prudency in the utilisation of funds.
"It's a pity that this bill failed. This is why we are saying we need a strong opposition in Parliament because this bill would have gone through if we had a strong opposition," she said.
"It's also a pity that government that campaigned on the basis of pro-poor policies is not listening to the people. The problem in this country is the elite want to decide what is best for all the other citizens," said Grillo.
Labels: BEATRICE GRILLO, KAPEMBWA SIMBAO, NGOCC
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NGOCC calls hard work in overcoming poverty
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Sun 28 Oct. 2012, 13:40 CAT
NGOCC board chairperson Beatrice Grillo says it will take hard work to overcome poverty.
Grillo, in an interview, said it was imperative to adopt the theme of hard work as a nation as it would contribute to providing solutions to the numerous challenges that the people were faced with such as high poverty levels.
She said poverty in Zambia had continued to wear a feminine face as could be seen from the millennium development goal (MDG) progress report (2011), which indicates that in 2006, extreme poverty was 57 per cent in female-headed households compared to 49 per cent for male-headed households.
"In addition, eight women continue to die every day in Zambia from maternal-related complications going by the country's maternal mortality (MMR) rates which stand at 591 deaths per 100,000 live births. It is unacceptable that 48 years after independence, women should continue to die in childbirth due to lack of access to adequate medical care," she said.
"In line with the theme for this year's independence, which is vision, hard work and unity, it is important for us as a nation to reflect on our aspirations, achievements and challenges towards building a self reliant and developed nation."
Grillo said unity of purpose was important for the nation to build a 'One Zambia, One nation' that not only promotes equal participation of women and men in all spheres of national development but also anchored on strong systems and pillars of governance such as a good constitution.
"Therefore, the constitution-making process that the country is currently undergoing should foster the participation of each and every citizen by the end product being reflective of the people's aspirations," she said.
"Therefore, as we embrace the theme for this year's independence celebration, let us bear in mind that it will take hard work to overcome poverty. Hard work is at various levels, therefore, both the government and the citizens should work hard in addressing the challenges that face our nation. The government as representatives of the people must work hard to meet the aspirations of the Zambian people in fulfilling the campaign promises they made during the elections."
Grillo said the women's movement wanted to see a Zambia where both women and men fully participate and benefit equally in the developmental processes of this country.
Labels: BEATRICE GRILLO, HEALTHCARE, NGOCC, POVERTY, WORK ETHIC
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