The constitution bill will be published in the government gazette on August 1 with members of the public given an opportunity before the next sitting in October.
Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula said during a ministerial statement in parliament that the whole document will be published with the exception of the bill of rights that requires the amendment of article 79 of the Republican Constitution to be opened.
Simbyakula was responding to a point of order raised by Choma Central United Party for National Development Member of Parliament Cornelius Mweetwa who had wondered why the constitution bill had not been brought before parliament in the current sitting that closes on Friday.
Simbyakula said that cabinet had decided to bring the whole document to parliament to avoid handpicking clauses as had happened in the past.
He said that the alteration of Article 79 and the Bill of Rights will be subjected to a referendum alongside the 2016 general elections.
The Minister said that cabinet had decided to push the referendum alongside the general elections due to cost implications.
Pressed on how government had arrived at setting the referendum alongside the general elections Simbyakula quoted article 79 of the Republican Constitution: “The answer lies in Article 79 (3) A bill or alteration of Part III of the constitution or alteration of article 79 shall not be passed unless the first reading of the bill involved has been put before a referendum with 50% of eligible voters in a presidential elections cast their vote.”
However, when pressed further Simbyakula said in the spirit of prudence the elections and the referendum were consolidated.
The bill had been due to be presented in the current sitting of parliament but Simbyakula said the process had dragged on due to a lengthy consultations.
Simbyakula said he was hopeful MPs will do the right thing as the public was watching with judgment day coming in 2016.
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