Kabwata Patriotic Front Member of Parliament Given Lubinda says the constitution making process should have been concluded a long time ago.
Speaking during the launch of the Foundation for Democratic Process FODEP and Finnish Embassy sponsored state of Democratic accountability in Zambia aimed at assessing the levels of accountability among political parties; Lubinda said the people of Zambia should never abdicate their right to give themselves a new constitution to the government.
Lubinda said although some people were looking to government to give them a new constitution he said he will never change the view that people should not trust government to give them a new constitution.
The former Information, Tourism and Foreign Affairs Minister said this when he was offered a green ribbon by one of the participants at the meeting to which he said he still maintained his position on the constitution from 2002.
He said that most people had been wondering why his voice had not been heard enough on the constitution and appealed that Zambians should know that he was still a firm advocate of a people championed constitution.
“Using you, I want to say to the whole country my position is the same, the same position I had in 2002, Zambia requires to end this process and end it yesterday not tomorrow,” he said.
“We cannot continue to waste so much time, effort and resources we ought to bring it to a close in parliament.”
Lubinda added: “…where his voice is? We are not hearing it, has he changed because of the change in his position?”
The Kabwata lawmaker who has been shunted to the periphery of the ruling Patriotic Front power base said he only differed with the motion moved by Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament because it suggested that the process be surrendered to government.
“But I would like to appeal to all of you, go to parliament website and read my contribution to the debate on the motion raised by my friend Garry Nkombo, my conclusion in that debate was can you please amend your motion to make the motion relevant ,” he said.
“I did not agree and I shall not agree with anyone who presupposes that because of the delay, as a people we must therefore abdicate the responsibility of giving ourselves a people driven constitution to government.”
Lubinda said the process should never under any circumstances be left to government.
“I do not agree to a motion that says can the government give a roadmap? Because that will be contrary to the aspirations of the Zambians for a people driven constitution,” he said.
“The amendment I proposed to my friend Garry Nkombo is let the motion lead, Can government ensure that whoever is holding on to the draft releases it to the Head of State and to the people so that the stakeholders may come up with the roadmap leading to the giving of the Zambians a people driven constitution that is my stand and no one and no circumstances shall change that because that is me and what I believe in and I am afraid others don’t believe in that but that is me.”
The Patriotic Front government has been stalling on the constitution with the draft constitution stuck at Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba’s office after the Technical Committee were snubbed by State House to handover the draft constitution as per their terms of reference.
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