PF Gov’t chaotic on constitution – LAZ
Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president James Banda says the conflicting statements by government on the constitution making process are chaotic and a source of concern, reports Zambian Eye correspondent in Lusaka.
And Mr Banda also explained that there is no need to get a police permit when one wants to hold a public gathering or protest.
Speaking Monday evening, April 7, 2014 when he featured on Radio Phoenix’s “Let the People Talk” interview program that was monitored by Zambian Eye, Mr Banda observed that there is no clear position by the Patriotic Front (PF) government on the constitution. He said government officials including the president have been making conflicting statements.
Mr Banda said LAZ was concerned that government could not come up with a position and let the Chief Government Spokesperson announce to the nation. He said the current state of affairs on the constitution making process were government was pulling to one side and civil society to the opposite direction does not give hope to having a people driven constitution.
He said whatever the case there is need for government to create dialogue with various stakeholders on the matter. He said challenges could only be ironed out if all stakeholders go to the roundtable.
The LAZ president urged Zambians to continue demanding for a new constitution in whatever way as it was their right and promise given to them when they voted PF into government. He said the PF should honour their promise by giving people what they promised.
Mr Banda reminded the PF government that the time will come when the same people they are not giving what belongs to them will hold them accountable during elections. He said his association and other bodies including the PF have been of the view that the country gets a new constitution.
Meanwhile, Mr Banda also explained that there is no need to get a police permit when one wants to hold a public gathering or protest. He said there was no law stating that one has to get a permit, explaining that all one needs to do is to notify the Police.
Mr Banda said after one notifies the Police they need to also provide marshals that would help to control the crowd to ensure the people’s safety.
He charged that the current state of affair where some public meetings or rallies have been stopped by the Police was an infringement on people’s rights of freedom of association and movement that is provided for in the constitution.