We must not relent demanding for a new constitution – Fr. Bwalya

Opposition Alliance for Better Zambia (ABZ) president Fr. Frank Bwalya has urged Zambians not to relent in demanding for a new good constitution.

Commenting on the PF Members of Parliament voting against the motion on Tuesday that was seeking to urge government to set up a roadmap for the enactment of a new constitution, Fr. Bwalya said the PF has betrayed the people.

He however said Zambians must constinue to mount pressure on the PF government until they are forced to deliver on its promise for a new Constitution.

The ABZ said this in statement released to Zambian Eye Thursday night, March 13, 2014.

Below is a full statement:

STATEMENT

If PF members of parliament were representing the interests of the people who voted for them, the motion in parliament for a roadmap in the current constitution making process would have gone through easily.

The reality is that majority Zambians and stakeholders especially those that supported the PF in 2011 have been demanding for a durable people driven constitution. It is therefore very disappointing that PF prevailed over its members of parliament to vote against the will of the same people that sent them to parliament.

What is now clear is that PF wants to keep Zambians in the dark about the steps they wish to take in the current constitution making process. The reason is that this deceitful party has no political will to deliver a people driven constitution contrary to their own much publicized promise.

We are aware that PF senior officials including President Michael C Sata are against all the progressive clauses that were included in the first constitution draft report. As such, PF is now looking for a way out of the predicament they have found themselves in given the fact that they supported the same clauses while in the opposition and promised to deliver once voted into power.

In fact, statements by some chiefs that their people would rise against government should it accept the current constitution draft are sponsored by the PF as part of their propaganda to discard the constitution draft report.

Against this background, Zambians should not relent in demanding for a good constitution. This Independence Jubilee year is the right time to deal with the issue of a good constitution. Failure to have a just, durable and democratic constitution this time will turn us into a laughingstock. We should all stand up and be counted by participating in activities that should make PF succumb and allow our people to have the constitution they have always desired for many years. Posterity will not forgive our complacency.

Regarding the detention of young people on Youth Day that wore t/shirts with writings demanding for the release of the constitution draft report, we condemn the police and their masters for detaining those innocent young people.

The action of the police amounts to notorious violation of the fundamental freedom of expression. Those young people didn’t break any law by reminding the PF government to honour their promise of delivering a people driven constitution. We call upon all Zambians to condemn the action of the police and the PF who are encouraging this kind of human rights violation.

Fr. Frank Bwalya
ABZ LEADER