PF has shamed critics on constitution, says Chama

1
Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Chama
Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Chama

THE Patriotic Front (PF), United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Grand Coalition on the Constitution-making process have expressed mixed feelings over of the parliamentary route of enacting a new constitution.
PF secretary general Davies Chama said in an interview yesterday that the publication of the Constitution Amendment Bill has shamed critics such as political parties and some civil organisations.

Government yesterday published the Constitution Amendment Bill which contains non-contentious clauses such as the majoritarian system of electing the President and a mixed member of proportional representation system of electing members of Parliament (MPs).

“This publication simply means the PF means what it says and Zambians should trust the PF government. The publication has also shamed some of our critics because they thought we would not manage,” Mr Chama said.

He said delivering a new constitution has taken some time due to technicalities involved but Zambians should have faith that Government will deliver.
Mr Chama advised citizens not to listen to political parties and civil society organisations that are bent on criticising any government projects.

UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said in separate interview that there is nothing exciting about the publication of the Constitution Amendment Bill.
He alleged that it is clear that Zambians will be subjected to the 2016 general elections without a new constitution.

And Grand Coalition chairperson Leonard Chiti said the coalition is not happy with the decision by Government to take to Parliament all provisions of the final draft constitution without the Bill of Rights.
Last week, Minister of Justice Ngosa Simbyakula told Parliament that Government has decided to table during the next Parliamentary sitting all provisions of the draft constitution prepared by the technical committee on drafting the Constitution, except the Bill of Rights as per the provision of Article 79.

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY