Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says the government has received positive feedback from the public since the announcement of the proposed constitutional amendments by Minister of Justice, Princess Kasune, yesterday.
Mr Mweetwa states that the announcement of the proposed constitutional amendments has put to rest the propaganda which was being peddled that President Hakainde Hichilema wanted to increase the tenure of office to seven years.
“I would like to place here and now the government’s gratitude that ever since the Minister of Justice announced these proposed amendments to the Constitution most citizens have received these proposals well,” He said.
Mr Mweetwa who is also Minister of Information and Media disclosed during the media briefing that the government has no draft bill in place for amendment of the constitution as suggested by some sections of society.
The Minister explained that the proposed constitutional clauses for amendment presented to parliament yesterday by the Minister of Justice are not cast into stone but rather to give an opportunity for citizens and stakeholders to make comments as the government embarks on the journey of soliciting minimum consensus on possible constitutional amendments.
He explained that some of the clauses have been posing a challenge to the operations of government hence the need to amend the targeted clauses.
“Let me reiterate here that there is no draft bill for the amendment of the Zambian Constitution.”
Mr Mweetwa said it was necessary that the selected proposed clauses for amendments are addressed and pointed out that some clauses in the constitution have been causing administrative challenges in service delivery.
“It is necessary and expedient that they be addressed now because they are providing administrative challenges to the operations of government in a quest to provide the services for which this government was elected to save the people of Zambia,” He said.
Meanwhile, Mr Mweetwa says the number of seats that will be proposed to be added to the current 156 elective seats will be decided by the Electoral Commission for Zambia (ECZ ).
He emphasized during the media briefing, that it is the mandate of the ECZ to facilitate the periodic assessments of constituency delimitation and wards.
“This is one issue which I think is fairly straightforward, but that the number of seats that may be proposed to be added to the current 156 elective seats will be a function of the Electoral Commission for Zambia.”
Mr Mweetwa said the proposed delimitation is in inline with the constitutional requirement that ECZ is mandated by law.
If the gov’t is happy about the public response then let’s put the new supreme document to a public referendum.That’s the ONLY true measure of public approval.
https://theconversation.com/belief-in-democracy-is-on-the-decline-in-africa-traditional-institutions-can-help-restore-its-importance-225283
Zambians are of the opinion that constitution
Amendment was not of immediate concern.
They could have waited.
Good ideas; wrong time…
Bad ideas wrong time
Most Zambia’s have received the report positively? Guys yashani iyo?
A constitutional amendment must come from the people, never the ruling party. Increase number of seats and then potentially allow the president to nominate an unlimited number of Mps? This is all about reaching the two thirds majority and amending constitution as they d want.
Ati The People? Bane careful with Lawspeak – the people belong to parties in a democracy, when the majority vote the resulting government “belongs” to the people by absolute majority or by coalition! Germany just amended its constitution using a 2-thirds majority in the “voted-out” parliament BEFORE the constitutive session of the “voted-in” parliament, nothing funny, totally legal with Concourt in Karlsruhe trashing several urgent appeals from the opposition, chapwa! Careful when you adopt alien consensus-systems from elsewhere for THE AFRICAN REALITY!!
In three days sure? the govt received the views of “most Zambians”? Telepathy? Ba Mweetwa do you just have to say something because you have opened your mouth?
Does this chap understand the defintion of Public
The only positive respose he has received is from those who fear for their jobs by speaking against it
Chief Government Spokesperson ?? how many are there ??
A more fitting title Spin Doctor
Since the proposals are from them as government, as if they would ever say the public has given negative feedback.
Can government indeed announce that “we are unhappy with the…” Stop reporting the mundane. There’s no news here. It’s all dog barks
Comrade Mweetwa please the public is not interested advise your government to address the cost of living for now
Which positive response?
And, really, it took just one day to get meaningful response?
Sadly, in Africa, the greed of a few individuals to hold on to power keeps us from making progress.
Everytime a failure president sees that he is at risk of being voted out, he wants to change the constitution to try and hold on to power. We saw it with FTJ, we saw it with ECL. And now we are seeing it with HH. The big difference is that ECL and FTJ, atleast had some regard for the the country. HH has zero patriotism, and he will do anything to stay in power, even against the people. He is the kind of guy that is willing to start a war or genocide to make sure he gets what he wants.
Let the changes wait until after elections. Where were you since 2021 to rush into this now? Just admit if you have failed so that substitute the current player with a super-sub to equalize against the economy.
Which public, does listening to UPND cadres and paid students amount to public.
Just do a referendum, its not your money.
On one hand they say costs but on another hand they want to introduce more nominated MPs in parliament.
They lie for a living.
Do we need to approach scientists to cure this thinking crisis with our leaders – how does increasing number of nominated MPs bring down the cost of living ? Can you please focus on what matters and stop wasting our time.
Only in fiction films.
These guys live in a world of their own. Only blind followers can fall in such an open trap. Current constitution doesn’t bar the youth or women from participating. You adopt them on your ticket and there you are they are participating. Appointment of MPs…in whose favor? Withdrawing by a candidate from an election… what will stop Upnd from buying off opposition candidates to withdraw and allow their candidate to go unopposed. There’s nothing good about this path map.. nothing. The youth must be careful… this another promise just entice your vote like last time.
Deja Vu… well spoken!
Why do people loathe poverty? Does poverty sympathise with the selfish and egocentrics?
90 % of the people have rejected the new amendment so which positive response is he talking about? Sometimes you look foolish when you lie.