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Zambian leader says ready to assent to new constitution

Xinhua, December 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Tuesday said he was ready to assent to the new constitution as soon as it reaches his office.

Last Friday, the Zambian parliament approved the 2015 Constitution Amendment Bill which paves the way for the enactment of a new constitution, amid protests from constitutional campaigners over the decision by the lawmakers to remove some clauses from the draft constitution.

But Lungu told reporters before departing for northern Zambia to check on development programs that some people have asked him not to rush into signing the bill into law.

"I am ready to sign the bill as soon as I receive it. People have been given the constitution which they have been waiting for. They wanted the constitution and we have given it to them but some people are saying I should not rush into signing it," he said.

The Zambian leader said it is unfortunate that some people wanted to be against any progressive ideas the government is embarking on.

The lawmakers spent the whole Thursday night debating the Constitution Amendment Bill until Friday morning when it was adopted except for part three which is the Bill of rights and will be adopted through a referendum.

The lawmakers removed some clauses from the constitution much to the chagrin of constitutional campaigners who had been pushing for the draft constitution to be adopted in its entirety.

Among some notable clauses which were unanimously adopted include a 50 percent plus one requirement for a presidential winner, dual citizenship and a running mate clause in a presidential election.

The lawmakers also adopted a clause canceling the holding of an election in case a sitting president dies as the country's vice-president will automatically take over.

Macdonald Chipenzi, the spokesperson of the Grand Coalition for a People-driven Constitution said the lawmakers missed an opportunity to adopt a people-driven constitution by removing clauses which had come from people.

The current constitution-making process began in November 2011 when late President Michael Sata appointed a 20-member Technical Committee to draft the new constitution.

Zambia has had four constitution review processes since independence from Britain in 1964 and analysts have said the processes have been costly ventures to the country. Endit