THE National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has said the 50 per cent plus one clause on the election of the president and other clauses referred to the referendum would be voted on simultaneously.
NCC chairperson Chifumu Banda said despite having many clauses that had been referred to a referendum there would only be one referendum, which would decide on the proposed constitutional provisions.
Mr Banda, however, said he could not know the cost of the referendum because it was a matter for the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
He said that holding of any election in the country was the responsibility of the ECZ, which could also give the costs involved.
NCC spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis also said in a separate interview that the Ministry of Justice would decide on how the referendum on all the clauses would be conducted.
Ms Zaloumis said holding a referendum was very expensive because everyone who had obtained a National Registration Card (NRC) was eligible to vote.
Ministry of Justice deputy Minister Todd Chilembo said the Government could not ascertain how much it would cost to hold a referendum but said that the undertaking was not cheap.
He said it was only the ECZ, which would know how much it would cost to hold a referendum.
He also said it was sad that some critics of the Government were creating an impression that it was only the 50 per cent plus one clause that the NCC delegates had agreed that should be resolved through a referendum when the opposite was the case.
“We have agreed on many things but unfortunately some detractors of the Government were portraying an impression that we have not been agreeing in the NCC, that is not right,” Mr Chilembo said.
ECZ deputy director Priscilla Isaacs told media heads when the commission held a meeting with them that she could not comment on the matter until the Government officially communicated to the ECZ.
Ms Isaacs said the ECZ could only comment after receiving directives from the Government that there was need for a referendum.
“If we are called upon to conduct a referendum we shall be able to act,” Ms Isaac said.
[Times of Zambia]
We need the referendum, cause we want 50+1
Anything else tilechivivula bakolwe mwatubelesha!!!
Am surprised that all the time this issue comes up, its only the pipo in Government that say “no”. To those not in government its seems like they r looking at it romanticaly. We shld all look at it seriously. Zambians have turned out to be tribal inclined. Look at present case. Banda – East, Sata – North, HH – only South. Its is not easy, if not impossible to it 51%. HH is even most disadvantaged. Bembas do not vote for anyone who is not Bemba. Tongas also. Who will vote for a KALUBALE? So the question is: How many re-runs will we have?
You, ve got it all wrong #2. While i believe politics in zambia have regionaised, but is it wrong to state that bemba can not vote for other tribes. bembas voted for Levy and they are going to vote for HH.
I think this is bad reporting by Times of Zambia! They should have given us an insight of the clauses that have been referred to a referendum!
:((
So HH is pact president. Go pact go. Time to have a youth who understands the demands of modern times. A referendum cheap must be held bcoz its the only way the people of Zambia can rule themselves. No saying No to a referendum after all its tax payers money. The people of Zambia deserve better. Just make sure no one hijacks this process and it must be done now so that come 2011 we will vote under a new constitution. Ba Sata go out there and tell your people to rally behind the one HH for this the only way you will get closer to plot 1.
So HH is pact president. Go pact go. Time to have a youth who understands the demands of modern times. A referendum cheap or not must be held bcoz its the only way the people of Zambia can rule themselves. No saying No to a referendum after all its tax payers money. The people of Zambia deserve better. Just make sure no one hijacks this process and it must be done now so that come 2011 we will vote under a new constitution. Ba Sata go out there and tell your people to rally behind the one HH for this the only way you will get closer to plot 1.
wE WANT,WANT the 50 % nothing else
Can we also refer the power of recall to the national referendum. Interested parties were allowed to vote, namely, the MPs themselves. Surely you don’t expect them to subscribe to this? They should have been excluded from this vote. It is like asking your servant whether he should determine on how he can be fired!