Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has appealed to Government to enact the constitution by March 2009.
Mr Hichilema said the Zambian government needed to give the people a new constitution because it was obliged to do so.
He said this at a press briefing held in Lusaka today.
Mr Hichilema said Government should not delay the constitution making process but instead fund it expressing confidence that a new constitution would resolve national problems including funds.
The opposition leader added that there was need for a Constituent Assembly which would provide a road map and deal with funding and legal issues.
And speaking on corruption, Mr Hichilema described the vice as a huge negative monster costly to the Zambians hence the need to be fought.
He said the UPND supported the fight against corruption because money which should be applied in the health and education sectors was being wasted due to corrupt practices.
He suggested that public service workers should be paid well to avoid corruption.
Mr Hichilema further said corruption should be handled firmly and fairly and those that need to be persecuted should be dealt with professionally.
He urged the UPND Members of Parliament to perform their civic duties effectively.
ZANIS
I think that the debate about an improved constitution is legitimate. The issue to me is, politicians and their lawyers who have spent quite abit of time bickering about this subject have failed to convince the Zambian public how specific pieces of the constitution will alleviate poverty. For all its merits this debate is still TOO ABSTRACT at the moment. For an ordinary citizen there are surely more pressing matters to deal with. Please explain how presidential powers, POA, and all contentious issues. I hope it doesnt turn out another way of giving jobs to lawyers, most of whom are unproductive to the public good. For the most part, lawyers have earned huge fees thanks to plunderers but produce nothing of economic value. lets get on with real work.