Laura Miti writes….
The arrogance displayed by President Hichilema, and the UPND government, on Bill 7, is exactly the one that has put government after government in trouble with Zambians.
The one I always think of as asking citizens – so what can you do about it?
So they announce that some recommendations from the public will be included in the Bill that will be put to the vote.
The people have no idea what those changes are. In short – as it has been from the start, only those who hold power will decide what will be in the Constitution.
WE THE PEOPLE will discover on the day of the vote, what is in the Bill😏!
Essentially this government wasted a whole lot of money on the Mushabati Committee, to pretend to consult the public. A total sham because consultation means the consulated are told the result of the process.
Government is acting like God when we pray. Ask but the decision on what is good for you is mine and mine alone. They think they are gods over us.
It would, of course, be another proud Zambian moment if MPs refused to pass this work of disdain for the people of Zambia.
Let’s just say it’s almost certain that the UPND has done its nasty homework.
The hubris displayed, so far, suggests that enough MPs have been garnered to pass a constitution amendment cooked in private, for the appetite of those who hold power.
I will just end by saying that, in this Bill 7 process, President Hichilema has chosen to write his name on the side of dishonourable constitutional making history.
He joins this unhappy list of ruling party self-serving arrogance:
1972 – One party state
1996 – FTJ constitutional amendments that took our democracy backwards
2001 – Third Term Attempt
2019 – Bill 10
2025 – Bill 7.
I guess it’s all worth anything to him.
But there are also a lot of people who will thank him for having taken this bold decision .
Exactly
I think Miti just resign or retire and go farming. That’s the problem we have with the so called Zambian elites. The majority of Zambian have supported the proposals and only few who are in the minority have said no. Additionally, they cannot point out to any one what they disagree with in the Bill. Also parliamentary members are each entitled to cast a vote for either yes or no. We are talking of 2/3 and not just a simple majority. We can’t continue with this level of stupid coming from a human rights commissioner. Democracy does not mean everyone has to agree with each and every point. You can go and join the so called Oasis that want to put force the government into paralysis. Tell us personally what you oppose in the bill and state the reasons. Don’t tell us about the timing. The Government is voted to govern for a 5 year term and has it’s mandate to implement its agenda at any time within its term. We need people who serious with work in government, parliament, churches, opposition, NGOs, Labour movement and all stakeholders. Those who were singing praises during Lungu’s presidency and living off that should consider retirement. All institutions paying NGOs to sabotage Government should either stop funding these NGOs or Zambia should expel them from operating from the Nation. We need NGOs that are going to partner with the nation in providing solutions.
This woman is still has a serious problem. What is wrong with the bill. If she bothered to follow the issue. Contenious issues raised at committee stage the Minister of Justice and her PS stated they would amend the bill a during 2nd reading. Has Laura taken these amendemwnts into account of she is just making irrelevant outbursts cause she is failing at her job as Human Rights Commissioner?
He said it Akekalapesa, and now the poor man is clearly never going to sit on the thrown, the he went on to aoligise how he spent so many years in opposition and claimed that he can never spend that many years only to come and rule for one term, on this he vehemently refused saying AIKONA, so many times. That should clearly send a signal to the opposition on how determined the man is, and as long as the opposition does not band together to in unison say AIKONA as one, the country is stuck with the rancher for a long time to come