THE Technical Committee drafting the new Republican Constitution has urged Zambians not to simply praise or condemn the first draft document now in the public domain but should read, debate and offer concrete comments on it.
Technical Committee spokesperson Simon Kabanda said people should engage in informal debates on the Draft Constitution and not showering praises or condemnations before reading the document.
“They are therefore expected to read, debate, and make comments on it.
We expect informal debates to be going on,” he said in response to a Press query yesterday.
Mr Kabanda said the committee expected stakeholders such as traditional leaders, church groups, Non-Governmental Organisations, community-based organisations, trade unions, professional associations, area development committees and others to read and debate contents of the document and make comments.
He said the secretariat and the National Assembly Constituency offices had comments’ boxes where individuals, associations and organisations could submit comments on the document.
Mr Kabanda said 300,000 hard copies of the first Draft Constitution had appeared as an insert every Wednesday in the daily newspapers of Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail and The Post for a period of three weeks from May 3, 2012.
“A total of 400,000 will appear as inserts in the three daily papers by Wednesday May, 24 2012. We have also distributed 100,000 copies countrywide, to all the 150 constituencies,” he said.
Another 65,000 copies were being given to other stakeholders to distribute and 300 copies of the Braille version were transcribed for access by the visually impaired.
Mr Kabanda said work to produce a simplified version of the first Draft Constitution had begun.
He said the simplified version would then be translated into seven major local languages that included Lozi, Bemba, Tonga, Lunda, Luvale, Kaonde, and Nyanja.
Mr Kabanda said the technical committee had also produced an audio version of the first Draft Constitution.
[Times of Zambia]
ah Kabanda did you factor in that Zambians do not generally READ…..if you want to hide something from a black man put it in writing.
I think that statement “if you want to hide something from a black man put in writing” was used in colonial days when education was only for whites and when the Litunga used to sign documents using thumbs – I wonder if it applies in our days – times have changed
1.1 you are totally wrong, what with our current levels of illiteracy??? #1 is INDEED RIGHT!!
This guy has become fat. Power is sweet :-)
kudya bwino ba PF ka
I agree with No 2, not only being fat but he has become very neat no more grey hair.
What about that Minister of white dirty beards – – -one shamenda whr is he taking his money . buying ngombe presume!
Have spent some quality time reading the Draft Constitution, but am not sure have seen the pozition on the contentious issue of the unnecessary bye electionz that we continue to have.
#1 I totally agree with you….winning the poor Zambian’s votes while imposing the laws he does not understand unless they translate the whole constitution and allow the majority poor Zambians to add suggestions especially in their area of habitant is totally unfair and failed democracy to the very extreme. Impose laws, hide the truth in writing as my friend #1 has said is unacceptable while we use them to vote us in power. They understand bad road, no medicines in clinics, fertilizer etc. so let’s give them the respect as voters, translate it and government officials help explain it.
Put a clause which will limit the amount of money government gets as loans…
I think this is were civic organisations should now make their loot. Educate the masses. Most of our people will not read the document. They would rather just say PF has delivered or The consitution is not a good one.
its like people dont care about this thing.
Kabanda has learnt how to bath… thanks to my tax.
kikikikiki
why should we debat this draft? when Kabimba has already told us what the PF Governement will accept and not accept….wasting time and resources as usally.its a failed process because the outcome is predertermined by the ruling party.
# 4 THE ONLY LIVING JAY, I concur with you! Unlike some bloggers, I have used my ability to read to comb through this document with a highlighter. I am currently on page 200, ‘public service & commissions, values & principles’. Like you I notice that unless most people contribute by submitting, this important clause dealing with by-elections could be adressed thorugh non-allowing of candidates who have just crossed over to another party to recontest the same seat. This practice is wasteful and a nuisance! Secondly, the running mate for the president should be part of the new constitution as included in the first draft. Mr. Winter Kabimba should not advise the president wrongly on this one. His sentiments should remain as his own! THIS DRAFT WITH A FEW IMPROVEMENTS GIVES A LOT OF HOPE!
Perhaps I missed it but it is possible radio is a medium that could push the information further and segments can be repeated with people invited in to discuss and debate. It should also be in every school as that is where those who will be the ones to carry this forward are based.
Why are most people so negative and speak against- Mr. kabanda is just encouraging the Public to read the draft constitution. He is there on the committee because thats his time. It has nothing to do with bathing, fat, or whatever. Can you imagine if it where you in Mr. Kabanda’s shoes!!!!!! Lets debate the draft constitution and dont personalise this issue please!!!
# 4 THE ONLY LIVING JAY: the proposed propotional representation of electing MPs has done away with by-elections. a seat won by a political party will be held by that party for 5 years. if one leaves, dies, etc, the next person on the party list takes over as MP
Why is the one woman playing spades on her laptop, I thought they were at a meeting
Looking at the main picture of 2 ladies with their back to the camera and laptops on table listening to the conference. On closer inspection, one is playing solitair on laptop and the other is i think a ches game?????