Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) President Dr. Nevers Mumba says he is very encouraged that both the American Government and the Patriotic Front Government have agreed with the MMD position on the Constitution-making process as stated during the Presidential Debate on 15th January 2015 at Mulungushi Conference Centre.
Dr. Mumba said that owing to the challenging imperatives related to costs, logistics and public sensitization in at least 150 constituencies, it is almost impossible to enact the current draft Constitution before the 2016 General Election because it contains amendments to the Bill of Rights which require a Referendum to be held first. The Bill of Rights can only be legally amended via a Referendum.
This is why the New Hope MMD holds the view that political parties that had promised to enact the new Constitution before the 2016 elections were either insincere or just ignorant of how Government functions. In a statement released on 21st January 2015 in which Dr. Mumba conceded electoral defeat, he said,
A referendum requires planning, logistics, funding and sensitization of the public in every district which is difficult to do in 18 months…. A more realistic, practical and result-oriented approach is the MMD position of immediately taking separate important bills to parliament in order to address the following issues before the 2016 elections:
1. 50% + 1 electoral system
2. Presidential running mate
3. Reduction of the powers of the President
4. Freedom of Information and improved press freedom
5. The NGO Act
6. Public Order Act
7. Dual Citizenship
8. Cabinet from outside Parliament
9. Decentralization
10. Preventing parliamentary defectors from contesting seats for the life of the parliament they are in.
Dr. Mumba said the position of the party is to hold the referendum after the 2016 Elections to allow for proper planning and mobilization of all necessary resources.
On the size of government, Dr. Mumba said that he is concerned that rather than reducing the size of government especially in light of the escalating budget deficit, the government has maintained two deputy ministers in some ministries and has announced plans to split at least three ministries which shall result in additional costly appointments.
As stated in the MMD Ten Point Masterplan unveiled on 5th January 2015, the MMD proposed to reduce cabinet to 17 full ministers and only 27 deputy and provincial ministers, with one Permanent Secretary per ministry, all aimed at reducing the high cost of personal emoluments.
Constitution Cannot Be Enacted Before 2016 Election – Nevers added by on
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those pipo pushing for new constituition shud first check and respect their constituions. most NGOs and political parties have failed to respect their contituitions. first respect your church’ party and NGO constituition thats when you can talk about our republican constitution.
Am sure you are referring to upnd. HH was busy to signing the contract for grand coalition as if he knew what he was doing. As if yu are stupitee.
http://youtu.be/HGbDuBCy8BI
This man nervous mumba should live up to his name and be nervous so that he doesnt utter his usual crap to the media. we are tired of bought people like him on PF’s payroll. PF is the continuation of MMD and will never give you constitution. Zambians are docile. In other countries by now we would have had demonstrations on this issue. PLease vote UPND in 2016 and redeem yourselves from a dull decision made in 2015
We believe in dialog not demos. This is not an issue one shud even demonstrate. If you have a brain which functions properly, answer this question. What is govt position on delivering a people’s driven constitution and before 2016?
From my understanding referendum is standing in the way of fast releasing of the same because its pointless to risk going for a referendum and achieve nothing. You are not even in zambia and you are talking about referendum which you won’t even participate. So think about that mwaiche, going for referendum at a high cost and achieve nothing or go through parly and achieve something. Government is willing to give us a constitution but people like yu are against.
you area clueless boy who has not offered any substance on the issue. You have just gone round in circles. If you have a brain can you tell me how long this constitution impasse has been going on? Stupidity and ignorance is going about something the same way and expecting different outcome each time. YOu have discussed the consitution. The draft was released. What else is there to do than to give people a say in whether they want it or not. You are scared of losing in 2016 and then enacting this constittion as u will never rule after
We believe in dialog not demos. This is not an issue one shud even demonstrate. If you have a brain which functions properly, answer this question. What is govt position on delivering a people’s driven constitution and before 2016?
From my understanding referendum is standing in the way of fast releasing of the same because its pointless to risk going for a referendum and achieve nothing. You are not even in zambia and you are talking about referendum which you won’t even participate. So think about that mwaiche, going for referendum at a high cost and achieve nothing or go through parly and achieve something. Government is willing to give us a constitution but people like yu are against.
When it suits you, then you want dialogue, but when it doesn’t you go for more that demonstrations, you go beating people around…
Trixy do not waste your time with this rif raff. nichishupu uyu. Just because my current location is not zambia does not mean i do not permanently live in Zambia. SOme people work as consultants and travel widely as their services are on high demand in other areas willing to pay for them. You have a closed minded perception and need to expose yourself to this globalised environment. Eating katapa everyday has eroded your brain
This president we is future for cast, he knew that there’s difficulties in applying this issue and so he refused to sign that grand coalition memo, all those who signed lost and didn’t know what they were doing, look at HH the armature, he was the first to sign and has never worked even as a ward councillor but wants this constitution. These opposition should think before talking kak. Viva EL, 2016 nafuti, nafuti
Your english is appalling and I found it hard to read your comment. Even the queen would cry if she read this debacle you have spilled here ba BANDA
Get the sense and not just being a critic you kak. It’s just writing in a hurry. Remember to advise HH to think before talking or he ll be a cheat as well.
Just say you are a grade seven drop out not ati you were writing in a hurry…writing in a hurry my foot!! for once be honest and maybe we can even forgive and understand why you write such shallow comments and why you fail to articulate simple issues….
Afterall its not even our language,its a foreign one,so it matters less if its wrongly constructed or spelt provided the message has sunk in your ka small brain villager.
Nevers has a valid point. I feel the best would be to get those main points from all parts, visit routes to be taken & ask EL to skirt the referendum the way KK skirted it in 1990 such that we had multi-partism in 1991. Its only that we have a lawyer on the seat of govt today.
new educated is JANE MULENGA Y DID YOU CHANGE YOUR NAME FROM JANE MULENGA TO NEW EDUCATED ZAMBIA? WE KNOW ITS YOU JUST LOOK AT YOUR COMMENTS ON THE ISSUES CAN SAY SOME THING IMPORTANT YOU JUST SAYING SOME THING ELSE. ANY WAY I CAN’T BLAME YOU I CAN ONLY BLAME YOUR FATHER HH
Kape do you know how to type in lower case. You see that button usually on the left side of the keyboard? Normally it has “caps lock” written on it. Please press that key and if the light comes on it means the big letter are engaged. To unengage them hit it it once. Please try this. silly pf cadre
He wrote like that for you the blind to see and the educated but hungry to have a food for thought. All you know is criticism, watch out you end up criticizing yourself one day
vampiro do not think every Zambian value HH the way you do. miyanda, milupi and your HH shud first respect their party constituition before giving them power. Zambia does not need wamuyayaya. let them go for convetion period
please we want the people driven constitution now before 2016.every presidential candidate was promising this what has gone wrong.pf cadres remind your president what he used to say me to.
@trixy, kupusa and u ll cry and cry until blood comes out but HH won’t be ushered as the next president. Remember all u know is criticism
Ba Mumba, bapuba, sana, any way, tabakwete party. Nganibena, balelwisha aka fulo,
As a ambassador, pantu, balitemwa ukulya, ifyanona, high life. Kwati tebakateka mwe!!, ifintu, ni HH. MMD, nabashitisha, go back to the pulpit.
@ kabengele are you one of the Technical man @ one of the Z…fimo-fimo organisation?
Kambwili’s proposal is the best! First adopt and enact some proposals through parliament and the contentious ones through a referendum that shall run together with next year’s General election.
Not Kambwili’s ‘proposal’ but Kambwili’s statement on Government stance. I bet that was their proposal even during the election.