HH DEFENDS TIMING OF CONSTITUTION AMENDMENTS
Republican President Hakainde Hichilema has questioned concerns raised about the timing of his administration’s move to amend the constitution, stating that the law does not specify when such changes can be made.
He states that arguments suggesting the process is being undertaken at the wrong time are unfounded and not supported by the constitution itself.
During an address to the nation today, President Hichilema noted that previous administrations made constitutional amendments during election years without facing similar objections.
He cited the UNIP government in 1991, the MMD in 1996, and the Patriotic Front in 2016, saying none of these processes drew the level of concern now being expressed by some organizations and stakeholders.
He added that the same groups now objecting remained silent when similar amendments were made in the past.
President Hichilema stated that it was unfair for critics to portray the reforms as politically motivated, emphasizing that his administration is acting within the law and following established procedures.
He explained that the current constitution contains several gaps that need to be addressed.
BY CHANDA MWANGO
Camnet TV
This man is a problem. Can you really compare the past Constitutional Reviews Zambia has had with the nonsense we are being Subjected to today.
Under the Patriotic Front, the Constitutional Review started in 2011. It was only actualized in 2015. And everyone was on Board.. Civil Society Organizations, the Church, and all Zambians . It was done transparently. And look at the product of the Patriotic Front Constitutional Review. 50+1 so that we have a majoritarian President, A Running mate so that the office of the Vice President is protected, Prevention of unnecessary bye Elections by preventing the person who causes a bye Election from standing again during his or her term in office. These were progressive terms in our Constitution which the Zambian people wanted. There wasn’t any Imingalato. Clear and straight forward.
If it had not been for the same Hakainde and his UPND, we could have had the expanded Bill of Rights. But he campaigned against this and the Referendum failed.
Look at the Constitutional Review Commissions under past governments..the Mvunga and Mungomba Constitutional Reviews, and the Annel Silungwe Technical Committee.
Look at the terms of reference of these commissions and the Time Lines.
Can you compare these with the Mushabati Technical Committee? 12 days Consultation? And restrictive Terms of Reference tied to the illegitimate and unconstitutional Bill 7.
The Delimitation Report – Top Secret
The Census Report – Top Secret
Voter Registration – A sham except in Southern Province
NRC Issuance – A sham except in Southern Province
And when you mention this to him, he hides behind Hatred.
Do you want to be loved when you are doing wrong things?
Be Straight, honest , and of Virtue..A Moral leadership without useless Imingalato..and people will love you.
Sir, why do you sound so angry and worked up with these long daily comments of yours?
@ Simpo sitali
Because am Angry. And like Malcolm X said, ” Show me a black man who is not Angry, and I will show you one who needs Psychiatric Treatment ”
One thing about me,Brother Sitali, is that I don’t like being taken for a fool..And I get Angry when someone takes me for a fool.. Nixon Chilangwa is in jail…so too is Ronald Chitotela over Flimsy cases. Look at those two young women in Chipata, young mothers in their prime, in jail for 4 years for Ridicule..just over simple words while mourning Edgar Lungu. Young lives completely destroyed.
Look at the Sham Constitutional Amendment Process… Who in the history of Zambia had a 10 day Constitutional Consultative Process for the whole country? And when people say this is wrong…
The man says am hated because of my Tribe!
Any way, sorry for my long Comments. I will have my own site soon so that I properly engage with Zambians.. Will be leaving ZO soon.
@ One Hundred Thousand Kwacha NKUKU Man, like I said before, you seem to be one of the very few PF supporters who can use logic, but unfortunately, you still dilute your points due your support of PF. For instance, you lament about the young women in jail for what you describe as “simple words”. Does it make it any less of a crime if someone use “simple” words to insult someone? Do you know that there other young people in jail for simple crimes like stealing chicken because they were angry? The question should always be, was the case fairly tried and proved in court before someone is convicted or not? If yes, then we should be lamenting about “simple” crimes. But if as a country we feel people should not be jailed for “simple” crimes, then let’s change our laws, simple.
@ One Hundred Thousand Kwacha NKUKU Man, like I said before, you seem to be one of the very few PF supporters who can use logic, but unfortunately, you still dilute your points due your support of PF. For instance, you lament about the young women in jail for what you describe as “simple words”. Does it make it any less of a crime if someone use “simple” words to insult someone? Do you know that there other young people in jail for simple crimes like stealing chicken because they were hungry? By the way, someone can not speak what is not in their heart, what those ladies did was not because of grief, but that is what was in their hearts, and grief just made it easier to bring out. The question should always be, was the case fairly tried and proved in court before someone is convicted or not? If yes, then we should be lamenting about “simple” crimes. But if as a country we feel people should not be jailed for “simple” crimes, then let’s change our laws, simple. By the way, if insulting people is not in someone’s nature, I can certainly tell you that they can not insult, no matter how hard they are pushed, unless its in their nature to insult.
@ One Hundred Thousand Kwacha NKUKU Man, like I said before, you seem to be one of the very few PF supporters who seem to have some level of understanding of on things and can use logic, but unfortunately, you still seem to get polluted by PF mentality and your points get diluted in the process due your support of PF. For instance, you lament about the young women in jail for what you describe as “simple words”. Does it make it any less of a crime if someone use “simple” words to insult someone? Do you know that there other young people in jail for simple crimes like stealing chicken because they were hungry? By the way, someone can not speak what is not in their heart, what those ladies did was not because of grief, but that is what was in their hearts, and grief just made it easier to bring out. The question should always be, was the case fairly tried and proved in court before someone is convicted or not? If yes, then we should not be lamenting about “simple” crimes. But if as a country we feel people should not be jailed for “simple” crimes, then let’s change our laws, simple. By the way, if insulting people is not in someone’s nature, I can certainly tell you that they can not insult, no matter how hard they are pushed, unless its in their nature to insult.
PS: I was once a PF supporter in the early 2000s so I know how illogical one can be when they are party supporter.
The amendments will go ahead. The constitutional court didn’t say the timing was wrong. It just stated that the consultation was inadequate. Now it is the people of Zambia making submissions to the technical committee countrywide. I remember someone saying I will sign the document with my eyes closed and went ahead to sign it in the wrong place in view of the then chief justice. These submissions will be law at the exclusion of those who do not want to make their submissions. That is democracy. Even the current constitution did not meet the aspirations of all Zambians, but today it is the law. Just submit or forever you will regret. UNIP even boycotted the 1996 elections over the constitutional amendment but the elections went ahead. Those that don’t want the delimitation of some constituencies can opt not to field candidates in those new constituencies. Who cares. We will still go ahead and vote.