The Council of Churches in Zambia has added its voice to the on-going constitution impasse fuelled by President Michael Sata’s recent statement that Zambia did not need a new constitution but piecemeal amendments to the current document.
In a statement, the church mother body says President Sata will be held personally liable if the PF fails to deliver a new constitution to the Zambian people as they promised in their party manifesto.
CCZ spokesperson Grace Zulu has dubbed President Sata’s stance an act of betrayal by the PF government.
Below is the full statement:
PRESS STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT’S U-TURN ON THE DELIVERY OF A NEW CONSTITUTION
The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) believes that the pronouncement by His Excellence President Michael Sata that the country does not need a new constitution is a sad development in the history of Zambia as a nation.
This assertion can also be described as a betrayal of trust of the Zambian people by the PF government and a U-turn on the promise made by the PF party that it would deliver a people-driven constitution which enticed people to vote for PF.
As an institution mandated by its leadership as well as its membership to speak on their behalf, we demand that the President redirects the constitution making process to its original plan of releasing the draft constitution simultaneously to the Executive as well as to the people of Zambia, allocate resources for the purposes of holding a referendum as a way of respecting the wishes of the people.
We shall immediately engage the public, congregations and every well-meaning stakeholder to pressure the President to rescind his decision and release to the people of Zambia the final draft of the constitution and later adoption of the same through a referendum.
We shall all hold the President accountable if the current constitution making process fails as he owes the Zambian people a constitution that will stand the test of time as was promised in the Patriotic Front manifesto which states that:
“the PF government shall establish in consultation with stakeholders a Committee of Experts to review the recommendations of all previous Constitutional Review Commissions in order to draft and present a constitution which will reflect the will and aspirations of the people for submission to a referendum and subsequent enactment only, by the National Assembly”.
The church believes that the constitution making process is a justice issue and the Zambian people demand nothing but justice, honesty, righteousness, fairness, credibility and integrity to all people and by all people.
Ms Grace Zulu
Communications Officer-Council of Churches in Zambia
Communication & Documentation Officer
Council of Churches in Zambia | CCZ Ecumenical Centre
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