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A group of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), has expressed concern over the conflicting statements coming from different government leaders on the amendment of the Constitution.
Speaking on behalf of the CSO’s at a media briefing in Lusaka on Friday, Zambia Civil Liberties Union Executive Director, Isaac Mwanza, said the inconsistency creates unnecessary confusion and undermines public confidence in the process.
Mwanza noted that State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka claimed that a draft existed but this was disputed by Chief Government Spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa, who said that there was no such draft.
“At this juncture, what is critically needed is for the line Ministry to issue a clear and official government position,” he stated.
Mwanza called for a transparent, inclusive, and structured dialogue on the planned constitutional reform process now and in future, acknowledging that the incumbent had always been responsible for initiating the process of constitutional reform.
He, however, argued that, in the spirit of democratic governance and national unity, it was imperative that this process was undertaken with broad consultation.
Mwanza stressed the need to ensure that all stakeholders, including civil society, political parties, and the general public, were adequately informed and meaningfully engaged.
“And we note that the President clearly indicated that stakeholders will remain engaged to have a say in altering the country’s constitution – our constitution,” he said.
Mwanza urged all citizens, political actors, and interest groups to remain calm and exercise sobriety as they collectively seek to understand the details of the proposed amendments.
He noted that it was premature to oppose the reforms before seeing and having a full clarity on which articles were being considered for amendment and the rationale behind the proposals.
The CSOs include Acton Institute for Policy Analysis Centre (AIPAC), Advocates for National Development and Democracy (ANDD), Zambian Civil Liberties Union (ZCLU), and Governance, Elections, Advocacy and Research Services (GEARS).
Others are the Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes – (SACCORD), Measures of Justice and Democracy Foundation and the Zambian Institute of Governance and Civil Liberties Advocacy Platform (ZIGCLAP).
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