Give direction on the implications of amended constitution, Lungu told

President Edgar Chagwa Lungu should clearly give a clear direction to the nation on the implications of the amended constitution to be assented tomorrow on the electoral process as the country heads to the 2016 polls.

This means that the President must explain which clauses are transitional and those for immediate implementation as many Zambians seem to be still in the dark since the document was not shared after parliament passed it on to him.
In the light the controversy surrounding the constitution making process, the Minister of Justice should have clearly submitted and circulated the approved clauses by parliament and those dropped in the 1996 Constitution and the combined old and new clauses of the amended constitution to be assented by the president tomorrow. What character of the amended constitution Zambians will be witnessing at the heroes Stadium?

Further, we appeal to President Lungu to save the meager national resources by assenting to the Constitutional Bill at State House. This will be a cost effective platform of assenting to the Constitutional Bill than the stadium where people would have to be bused to and from the stadium at a huge cost to the country.

Having announced austerity measures late last year and in conformity to the dictates of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it will be ironic for the President to call for lavish ceremony in the face of economic challenges the country is facing. Being a listening President who presides over a listening government, we are confident that he will not allow further rake on the national treasury.

Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) reiterates its position that a clear electoral direction be availed to the Zambian and the Electoral Commission of Zambia at the signing ceremony in the face of the amended constitution as some of the clauses have direct impact on the operations of the Commission and management of the entire electoral process in 2016 elections

McDonald Chipenzi
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR