SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe and NGOCC Board Chairperson Mary Mulenga have been elected to serve as Vice Chairpersons of the National Dialogue Forum.
The duo will assist Professor Muyunda Mwanalushi who was elected Chairman of the Forum.
And YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza was elected as Forum Spokesperson.
Kabwe PF Central Member of Parliament Tutwa Ngulube was elected as the Legal Practitioner for the Select committee for standing orders.
Other members of the Committee elected include Sensio Banda, Priscilla Chileshe, Patricia Ndlovu, Winstone Chansa, Betty Chilunga, Hellen Mwale and Yizikanji Siwanzi.
President Edgar Lungu is expected to officially open the National Dialogue Forum this morning.
And President Lungu will hand over the Chairmanship of the Forum to Prof. Mwanalushi, after the launching today.
And speaking shortly after he was ushered in, Professor Mwanalushi, urged delegates to commit themselves fully, as their participation would lay a strong foundation for democracy on behalf of the 17 million Zambians.
He has encouraged delegates, to ensure their contributions are beyond tribal and partisan interests among other things.
Professor Mwanalushi has 45 years of academic experience, and has served at the Copperbelt University and the University of Zambia.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Given Lubinda has urged delegates to the Forum to commit themselves and freely participate in the deliberations.
Mr. Lubinda says the meeting is an important national assignment bestowed on the delegates by the Zambian people.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Dialogue Forum at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Wednesday , Mr. Lubinda said Government anticipates that the recommendations generated during the forum will culminate into widely acceptable proposed amendments to the said bills, which will then be given to the executive for consolidation and possible enactment by Parliament.
Mr. Lubinda has urged the delegates to acquaint themselves with the contents of the National Dialogue Act number 1 of 2019, the Constitution of Zambia Bill 2019 and the Public Order Bill among others.
And National Dialogue Forum Secretary Patrick Chisanga said the secretariat has so far made tremendous strides towards ensuring that the forum is a success.
Mr. Chisanga said some of the tasks undertaken, among other things, include preparation of a draft legislation for the forum and inviting members of the public to avail themselves as observers of the process in order to ensure transparency.
Mr. Chisanga said the purpose of the National Dialogue Forum is to ensure the implementation of the Siavonga Resolutions for the proposals to alter the constitution based on the draft amendments proposed to the Constitution as well as to reform the law on the Electoral process, Public Order and regulation of political parties based on submissions from stakeholders.
He stressed that it is the function of the Secretariat under the Act, to ensure that the objectives of the Act are achieved.
He added that he will endeavour to ensure that the Dialogue process is one that will leave a positive and indelible foot print in the history of Zambia.
The National Dialogue Forum has attracted participation from the religious groupings, members of parliament, political parties and members of the general public.
This is very good, unlike the bishops lead dialogue which wanted to mislead the nation. ECL well done for saving our mother Zambia, the bishops have only mislead HH.
“Professor Mwanalushi has 45 years of academic experience”
Could that be the reason some people like Chishimba Kambwili are saying that the NDF is just an academic exercise? …
@Nsimbi. That’s a good one. Kikikikiki
Rubbish forum.
Isaac Mwanza spokesman. So childish forum. look at list of committee members.
Anyway, congratulations to them to get free source of income. Their houses will be completed from allowances.
Well done to ECL for what ? For coming out with a non-inclusive and divisive forum ? Mark my words this will lead Zambia nowhere .As long as you leave out representation for almost half of Zambia to any constitution making process you are heading nowhere.We have been there before with the NCC under Mwanawasa which was also boycotted by this same PF.You can not use political intrigue and legislative criminality to enact a constitution for the sole purpose of institutionalising corruption and misrule.This is definitely not the end to this matter.So reserve your “well done” as this not the end.
My end is not your end, you cannot fully determin the end driven by the mass. Who new that this was coming or which end is coming.So what you think is coming may not come, you are not living alone to actualize all what you think.
Govt is providing leadership… thanks
Which half of the people is mitmit referring to. Please let’s be serious with what we say. President Lungu has shown true leadership whether one likes it or not.