Conveners of the April 30 constitution making process indaba SACCORD say 40 institutions have confirmed participation at the event.
Featuring on Muvi Television’s The Assignment programme SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Chembe said his organization is hoping that President Michael Sata shows up at the event.
Chembe said the decision by 16 opposition political parties to stay away from the meeting without the presence of the Head of State was respected.
“As I was coming here I have been told that about 35 to 40 organizations have confirmed participation,” he said.
He said SACCORD had taken note of the concerns raised by opposition political parties.
“We have been very consistent in terms of bringing all stakeholders in terms of hearing all their concerns. We seriously take note of their concerns (for political parties),” Chembe said.
“We are adding the voice that please Mr President, if you are listening do respond to the request that has been put by opposition political parties’ presidents who would like to have an audience with you. If the government had responded to all the concerns we would not be here discussing this subject.”
He said that there was hope for reaching consensus as government had never said appointing the technical committee was a mistake.
“One of the things that is very clear is that the current government has not apologized for constituting the technical committee that gives us confidence enough that there is an agreement, there is a social contract with people of Zambia and government to address the imperfection to enact a constitution that addresses the concerns,” he said.
Chembe also said that no violent activities were expected despite political cadres having stepped up their violent acts in the recent past against anyone challenging the government position.
“First and foremost we want to condemn as SACCORD any violence that is perpetrated in the country in the name of politics in the strongest terms possible. It is very un-Zambian, it is uncalled for a country that is going to be celebrating 50 years of Independence,” he said.
“We need to be selling ideas and not violence. We want to condemn violence they should discipline their cadres. This is a platform for discussion it is not an exchange for violence to show how violent one is.”
SACCORD has called for a consultative meeting that will be held at the Protea Hotel at Arcades.
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