The government has published the Constitution Amendment Bill number 10 of 2019 in Gazette number 12 of June 12, 2020.
Justice Minister, Given Lubinda, says this is to stop the peddling of misinformation among citizens.
Speaking during a press briefing where he presented the gazetted version of the Constitution Amendment Bill number 10 of 2019 in Lusaka today, Mr. Lubinda urged the public to read the Bill to give themselves comfort and assurance.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment of ensuring trust and consensus building in the legislative process.
And, Mr. Lubinda said Bill 10 has been the most inclusive and comprehensive Constitutional refinement process in the country’s political history.
He said the process lasted longer for any stakeholder to make their submissions, making calls for the withdrawal of the Bill unwarranted.
Mr Lubinda said the government is shocked to hear renewed skepticism on Bill 10 despite having given confidence to everyone that the parliamentary select Committee recommendations would be incorporated in the new constitution.
He appealed to all members of Parliament not to deny their electorates and Zambians in general their wisdom.
Mr. Lubinda wondered whether those calling for the withdraw of Bill 10 are concerned about issues that were raised when they pushed for the refinement of the Constitution.
He said such people are Not true to their conscious that the country should undergo similar circumstances of Presidential petitions after the 2021 elections.
donot be foolish ba lubinda who do you think you are just because are a minister in a visionless government
This man doesn’t understand. We have ready it, and we don’t want it period. We know you have mixed good and evil stuff in it hence we don’t want it period. And we know your agenda…
Your lies will be exposed as many people were just parroting your nonsense. Bring it on and translate it in major local languages tukamone
Thank you Hon Minister, lets see Akainde’s lies
Constitution of Zambia 2016 was published by Minister of Justice Syambikula, Be Edgar signed it. After we read it, it was discovered by PF and Lubinda that it was a wrong Constitution sign. The original “People driven Constitution” which Minister of Injustce Kabimba had hidden is now the one Lubinda want to publish.
The Constitution I believe in the “The People Driven” copy, which Ba Sata was carefully reading.
Edgar didn’t even finish reading, where did Edgar & Syambikula get that wrong copy from?
DEC should be pouncing on FAZ, they should camp at Lubinda’s office.
I think the issue is not so much about whether bill 10 is bad or not, the real issue is whether PF government who have the numbers in Parley can actually be trusted to incorporate the committee’s recommendations in the new constitution. So i strongly feel it’s more to do with the issue of trust and not so much about Bill 10 itself.
Bill 10 must fall. Come rain, come sunshine. Only the ignorant and the corrupt who stand to benefit from lungu continuing in power support bill 10.
We are not lazy. We have read it and we know that its primary aim is to perpetuate lungu’s poor leadership, remove parliament supervision over debt, introduce a blotted government by introducing deputy ministers so that you can bribe opposition with ministerial positions. To distort the parliament system to name but a few of the evils.
The fact that you are so desperate to pass it also shows your ill motives.
We already have it that stupid bill, personally I have changed the cover to call it an *****s bill, Now when you push someone until he reaches the cliff edge, and you try to push him further he will push back, I think this explains the agitation fanning around, people have been trodden upon, you can not now start threatening people who are already on edge, they will push back, unfortunately the ones doing the pushing do not know how far they have pushed the people hence careless statements coming from them, this is one type of good advice that they will fail to take advantage of, because they believe in praise singing. I end here.
All those opposed to bill 10 are acting maliciously and trying to mis lead the Zambian people. Mulebosafye nge mbwa but with nothing to say . Lubinda has published bill 10. Be real and read it again and tell us what is wrong with what Lubinda is saying. Unless you tell us your elected members in parliament are so dull that they can,t articulate issue. The only thing they can do is to walk away…..COWARDS!!!
Bowman Lusambo says there will never be a better president in Zambia than Lungu.
And my neighbour next door says “Look who is talking!!!”
This Bill 10 being push through by these sly thieves….nothing else matters!!
All those above who are jumping for this bill can not tell us why lungu and pf are desperate to push this bill through, why the hurry ? When more than half of the Zambian people see this bill as suspiscous
manuvering by lungu.
If you recall the UPND presidential petition , lungu and PF were desperate to have it thrown out based on a 14 day technicality even while claiming to have won fair and square.
We advised PF , that if you want to rule without problems , and you have won as you claim , for the sake of nearly half the population and national unity , let the UPND petition be heard. Lungu and PF were adamant on 14 days , even counting weekends. The resulting divisions we see now.
Same thing with this bill 10 , more that half the population are suspicious of this bill, yet PF…
…….are desperate to push it through , just like the 14 day technicality throwing out the upnd petition , even at the risk of total civil disorder and division…..
Is this procudural. Currently Bill 10 of 2019 is on the floor of Parliament and is being read for the Second time. Can this Bill Processing be aborted and Bill 10 of 2019 be replaced by the Amended Bill 12 of 2020? This doesn’t look legally right. Bill 10 of 2019 should be withdrawn and replaced by Amended Bill of 2020 in the next Parliamentary Session. Period.
Where can I find this publication.toilet paper has run out in my house
Iwe Spaka why the hurry yakuti. This thing has been in discussions for the past 5 years. Why don’t we take it to some conclusion whatever this will be and the sooner the better so we can go ahead and do other things
Skipper
5 years ……elections are 2021 , why not wait for a full new 5 year mandate from zambians……
Why rushing before elections ????
And Zambia has massive economic problems right now, will bill 10 fix those problems ??
As far as we are concerned, there are more pressing needs facing the country than bill 10.
Please read the document before posting uninformed comments here. I thought people in diaspora were meant to be highly literate
bill 10 is a done deal just concetrate on urgin your regional party to vote in numbers otherwiz you will cry again .ba kachema.
Kkkkkkk. Hamjata tamulanda best. Kkkkk !
Iwe KZ
Forget about being literate , it’s the actions of PF bordering on desperation to change the constitution that is very suspicious….
If you are so confident of winning in 2021 , what’s desperation about ?
A move in the right direction!!!
Democracy is about listening to what people need not forcing them to understand your needs. We don’t need bill 10 final. We have read it, it’s a strategic movement for U to retain power and we are fed up of u, please just leave office in peace next year. U have been carelessly taking us back to slavery
Please, the BILL 10 cannot be read and understood if not read side by side with the Current Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act 2016. It’s still falsehood at play to just “publish” and believe that people will side with you evil PF. We’ve read the document and have seen why you’re not being truthful to yourselves as promoters of the Bill. Mind you, PF ever drunk supporters have not had time to know that the BILL is empty if read alone and have not seen that it’s here were the first trik is. We who have read it side-by-side with the Constitution know that it’s evil and does not reflect the spirit of the “People driven constitution”.. Your hidden agenda is being revealed as you scamper in confusion. The “Do as I say” won’t help you, alipoka umwine…!!
Bill 10 is nothing but a ploy for this PF crime syndicate to remain in power indefinitely. We say NOOOOOOOO to BIll 10. Secondly, the Zambian people can’t trust corrupt PF anymore. There’s only one thing the Zambian people are interested in right now: to see PF voted out of office next year, and then send all of you PF gangsters to prison. That’s it.
Singwe, I rarely comment on people’s ignorance but yours is completely below sub standard. The constitution is not for one person. It defines your rights and liberties too. Look after your interest then you will become human again. Animals as far as I know have not penned down any constitution but obey certain principles too. So I plead that you read it Sungwe and with your own brain determine if it is good for you. If you convince your self it is good or otherwise that is ok. It is your view. What you shouldn’t do is renting a brain like in your posting. Do it for yourself. Same advice goes to all others. Napwisha
If this Const Amendment Bill 10 contains major changes, one wonders whether the process folowed was good enough. In the past we had constitutional review commissions to ask people their views on major changes. I expected a correction to the st.upi.d issues that led to confusion in the last election, to be corrected by the interparty forum, NOT major issues like proportional representation and others. Add to that, the changes are being proposed and driven by a party whose behaviour and actions are suspect, even if things look innocent people are always suspicious of PF, and rightly so. The anxiety and zeal of PF on this COVID-10 is itself very suspicious, why not wait until the next government (whether PF, MMD, or UPND, or FDD) and do it properly with less tempers and less suspicions.
So imwe ba Given Lubinda, why publish it now guving us very little time to study and comment?
That is what we mean by suspicious behaviour by PF, there must be something hidden between the lines.
This is confusing. Will the MPs vote for the original Bill 10 of 2019 or the Amended Version of 2020 during the second reading ? Is the Amended Version binding to the Bill Originators (GRZ)? How does the Gazetting of the Amended Bill 10 stop speculation?
Please don’t patronize us. We have read and assessed the objective of Bill 10. It increases executive powers without avenues for challenge and endeavours to have more control over other political parties. I will give examples, with my comments in brackets.
– deletion of the words “multi-religious” and the substitution therefor of the word “Christian”.
(Reaffirming Zambia as a ‘Christian nation’, unnecessary and alienating for other faiths)
– A political party shall—
i) promote and practice democracy through regular, free, and fair elections within the party; and
ii) A political party shall not— (a) be founded on a religious, linguistic, racial, ethnic, tribal, gender, sectoral or provincial basis or engage in propaganda based on any of these factors.
(This is a clearly…
(….. targeted clause – against the principle of enacting a law for one particular entity – and usually on assumptions)
iii) within fourteen days of the declaration by the Returning Officer of the presidential election results negotiate and form a coalition government with a presidential candidate that participated in the initial ballot, (This is for when ECL loses – then they would merely buy off some hungry party to ensure they remain in power)
iv) (d) accede or ratify or withdraw from international agreements and treaties; and (e) approve— (i) loans to be contracted by the state; and (ii) guarantees on loans contracted by State institutions. (This is currently with the approval of the National Assembly – amendment is now for only the cabinet to do this)
v) 4) Subject to this Constitution, a Minister shall continue to hold office until the next general election (Not when parliament is dissolved – remember the last fiasco? Confirming the intended advantage)
Vi) The President may appoint a prescribed number of Deputy Ministers as the President may consider necessary to assist Ministers (Do we need this, surely?)
vii) The President may create or divide a province or merge two or more provinces, as prescribed (This is currently with the approval of parliament – now for the President to be able to go it alone)
vii) A mayor and deputy mayor or a council chairperson and deputy council chairperson shall be elected(a) by councilors among themselves, as prescribed.
(Trying to return to the old model – so Sampa cannot be elected directly by the local citizens, for example as is now)
viii) A person qualifies to be appointed as Secretary to the Cabinet if that person has served in a senior management position in the public service for at least ten years
(Currently this is done in consultation with the Civil Service Commission – this requirement is deleted so the President can appoint on his own)
ix) A public officer who seeks election under clause (1) shall resign at least two years before the date of election
(Currently they can declare desire for public office and resign before the elections. Now suggestion is to resign 2 years before)
iii) within fourteen days of the declaration by the Returning Officer of the presidential election results negotiate and form a coalition government with a presidential candidate that participated in the initial ballot, (This is for when ECL loses – then they would merely buy off some compromised party to ensure they remain in power)
iv) (d) accede or ratify or withdraw from international agreements and treaties; and (e) approve— (i) loans to be contracted by the state; and (ii) guarantees on loans contracted by State institutions. (This is currently with the approval of the National Assembly – amendment is now for only the cabinet to do this)
Bill 10 of 2019 was gazetted and is on the Floor in Parliament for a Second Reading. When Parliament adjourned Bill 10 was ready to be voted on. We expect Parliament to resume and subject Bill 10 to a 2/3 Majority vote in Parliament. Amendments to the Bill can only be made during the 3rd Reading. Are these not the Parliamentary Procedures to be followed while processing Bills?
@HaMuna: are you scared that certain political parties don’t practice democracy??? That’s why the outcry??? You call it targeted, is it targeted at upnd who haven’t had a convention for 14 years??? Then as you discuss the bill, quote the clause number not your own number as this can be MISLEADING.
@Zambian citizen
When did you have a convention? And who stood against you daddy at your convention? How many votes did he have? And who did he beat to become your party president? And this assumption of always H -ing anyone with a different view from yours is no longer helping your cause.
Whether this amendment is to pay each citizen with a gold bar or deliver orange juice every morning this pack of scoundrels is not the one to drive anything. This governance record is clear to see for its incompetence. To be governed by grave diggers and money changers among others is as grave as a grave…
@Arisdonkey: PF had a convention in 2015 and is having another this year. From 2017, PF has been having local and Provincial elections not handpicking leaders like what Garry Nkombo and hh have been doing in western province. Prove me wrong if you have facts better than mine, my guy….
MARACHONDIS,LUBINDA.WE,DON’T NEED IT AND DON’T TREAT ZAMBIANS AS IF THEY ARE ILLITERATE.U ARE THE ONES WHO ARE FOOL. ESPECIALLY THOSE TINS WHICH MAKE ALOT OF NOISE FOR NOTHING LIKE KZ,RED LIP,KAPYONYO,INTOLE LUSAMBO,PAUL MOONGA.MFS U WILL DANCE THE DAY U WILL LEAVE OFFICE. U WILL FEEL ***NO NYA
Pilato: Dear Mr. Hakainde Hichilema
By Pilato.
Dear Mr. Hakainde Hichilema,
Sir I hope you find strength in every breath you take during this episode of your life. I am a human being and my humanity is tempted to feel sorry for you. I would have loved to visit you even for a minute and shake hands with you once again but that may not be possible for me to do right now. Sir, if ever you get to read this letter please read it not with your mind but with your heart because this is not a product of my intellect but of my heart. Mr. Hakainde sir, please cherish this period of your life as everything you have dared to stand for is being put to test. I do not feel sorry for you at all but i admire you sir. You are lucky and blessed.
Sir, think about the tallest building, before the last…
BILL 10 IS ABOUT DECLARING MORE CONSTITUENCIES, WHERE WILL THE MONEY FOR MORE MPs SALARIES COME FROM? BILL 10 WANTS TO ALLOW MINISTERS TO CONTINUE IN OFFICE DURING GENERAL ELECTIONS, WON’T THIS FACILITATE ABUSE OF INCUMBENCY? BILL 10 WANTS GOVT TO START FUNDING POLITICAL PARTIES, WHERE WILL THE MONEY COME FROM IF MOST GOVT WORKERS HAVEN’T BEEN PAID FOR MONTHS NOW? MINISTERS WHO STAYED IN OFFICE DURING 2016 ELECTIONS MUST PAY BACK THE MONEY AS PER COURT ORDER.
@Zambian Citizen … that is clearly a targeted clause. You don’t do that in a Constitution. Why are you even picking on that alone, when I have given some of the other examples that show this Bill is retrogressive in so far as we need to clip executive powers and not increase them, in so far as we want to do away with archaic perpetual rule and ensure rights are respected. There are other clauses in the Bill that do not augur well – if only you were not so lazy to read and be analytical! Your premise is only to defend the indefensible because you are a beneficiary and/or you choose blind allegiance.
Imagine if Ka taken lubinda was wise..but since I am just imagining..I won’t worst my braincells anymore because even in my imagination..mbuzi ilipo na nzelu zambili
Bill 10 has nothing to do with being a bad constitution or PF orientend law. It’s only that HH hasn’t accepted it knowing that his MPs did not participate in formulating that bill as they were constantly walking out of parliament as per instraction from their President. Otherwise the bill mean well and UPND are likely to adopt it as soon as they win elections in 2021 and claim the credit. I am just not happy that these two politcal parties PF and UPND are still going to dictate matters in our country after bringing so much confusion in the country. ECL and HH will be remembered for confusion and arnachy their parties have brought to Zambia’s political arena.