‘We have not recieved letter from technical committee’

a href=”http://www.daily-mail.co.zm” class=”f”>Zambia Daily Mail by Online Editor on 6/24/13

By TEDDY KUYELA
GOVERNMENT says it has not yet received a letter from the technical committee on drafting the Constitution requesting for a one month extension to conclude its work before handing over the final document to the President.
Minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba said Government will only give its position known on the matter once it receives a written request from the technical committee.
He said in an interview in Lusaka that even if his ministry receives a written request, he will have to consult the Ministry of Finance over the requested one month extension.
“I have just been hearing about this one month request. I have not yet received this request myself.
“The government’s position is that it will only respond to this matter upon seeing this request and of course with full consultation from the Ministry of Finance,” Mr Kabimba said.
He urged the committee to work round the clock to ensure that there are no delays in the Constitution-making process.
“The technical committee is working for the people of Zambia and we as Government want them to conclude the process. They should not prolong this process,” Mr Kabimba said.
He said the Patriotic Front government is committed to delivering a Constitution that will stand a test of time and which will be supported by all Zambians.
The technical committee has requested for a one month extension to conclude its work.
The deadline for handing over the final document to the President and the general public is June 30.
But committee spokesperson Ernest Mwansa said at a press briefing recently that the June 30 deadline has become untenable because of the other work which has to be concluded by the draftsmen.