- Stay Connected
Socialize
United States Ready to Support Zambia’s Constitution-Making Process
UNITED States (US) ambassador to Zambia Eric Schultz says his country will explore ways of supporting Zambia if Government decides to adopt the new constitution through a referendum.
In an interview recently, Mr Schultz dispelled assertions dispelled assertions that the US will not support the Zambian government in the event that it decides to adopt the new constitution through a referendum.
Mr Schultz said the US government has always been a committed partner to Zambia and that it would consider ways of providing support in the event that a referendum was called.
He noted that the law is complicated and should be followed in coming up with a people- driven constitution
“Conducting a referendum is an expensive undertaking and Zambia is just coming out of an election and the country will go to the polls again next year,” Mr Schultz said
He said Government last year spent about US$82 million to conduct the presidential elections but observed that a referendum would require more funding because a census of population has to be conducted.
Mr Schultz also observed that the recent presidential election was marred with voter apathy and that a referendum requires a turnout of 50 percent of the people eligible to vote.
He said the US government is committed to supporting Zambia and will consider ways in which it can assist to hold a successful referendum.
Meanwhile, the US government has donated US$1 million towards the former Angolan refugee local integration programme.
The programme allows former Angolan refugees to remain in Zambia by joining on allocated farm plots.
Mr Schultz commended Government for its role in the former Angolan refugee local integration programme.
He said this is an indication of Government’s commitment in providing leadership on issues affecting refugees in southern Africa.
This is contained in a statement issued in Lusaka by American embassy public affairs officer Janet Deutsch.
“The United States government supports local integration as a durable solution that can bring infrastructure development to the surrounding communities and foster economic development among Zambian and former refugee populations,” Mr Schultz said.
The Local Integration program is a three-year initiative expected to run until 2016.
Posted by Editor
on March 4, 2015. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
EASY
March 4, 2015 at 9:12 am
I’m only interested in Dual Citizenship for Zambian born thats all.
LOVINA
March 4, 2015 at 7:11 pm
New Educated Zambia
March 4, 2015 at 12:14 pm
The MMD and PF have failed to ensure a constitution that is people-based. The MMD siphoned lots of money through what has become an excuse of a constitution making process. The PF came in and did the same by using lame excuses and tricks to decieve people they promised a constitution in 90 days. It then becomes surprising and foolish for half of the country to vote PF. It is clearly a sign that majority of the country does not understand basic issues due to illiteracy. This makes it easier for parties such as the PF to take advantage of such people and promise manna on earth. The UPND once elected will ensure that the constutition criss is solved once and for all.
son of a Gun
March 4, 2015 at 2:16 pm
only when you go for aconversion and elect a new leader.may be.For now stop dreaming.
jobreaker
March 4, 2015 at 3:15 pm
what r u saying,Ba tumfweko what is this guy saying..USA wants to help contribute a certain fee for a new constitution and they clearly explain that its actually more costly than elections..we wouldnt be in this position if Pf had gone unopposed we could have saved a lot of money, but before we could even burry our late president akainde was busy campaigning..I say we wait until next year to provide a constitution so as the government will have time to think on how to fund for the project
New Educated Zambia
March 4, 2015 at 3:24 pm
They seek to continue postponing a pressing issues such as the constitution. These chaps can find the money to hold more than 3 by elections at one go and yet at the same time claim they need to find money for the constitution which if effected might save us costs by avoiding such unnessary elections. Do you now see why I say the PF is clueless? What happened to 90 day rhetoric? I was expecting a new constiution within 90 days.. Please let us not trust a party that has failed us on so many issues. I used to be a PF supporter and got fed up by all the lies and mediocre. Vote UPND
jobreaker
March 4, 2015 at 3:17 pm
u son of a gun, u are absolutely right…let akainde hold a convention what is he really scared of unless upnd is really for tongas
COONDE
March 4, 2015 at 3:35 pm
THRE ARE NO OTHER SHORTCUTS FOR LUNGU. A REFERENDUM IS THE WAY TO GO. ZAMBIA FORWARD WITH HH. HH FOR A BETTER ZAMBIA. VIVA UPND VIVA! VIVA HH VIVA!
chika Edk Ike PhD
March 4, 2015 at 4:58 pm
Ya we need new constitution chapwa
chaona mzako
March 4, 2015 at 7:07 pm
ka new educated ponyo ponyo. ukafunye icalo mu ndofu yakwa noko then call it hizambia then hh with ka cult ka upnd will preside over it well well. not my zed….na na na
New Educated Zambia
March 4, 2015 at 7:26 pm
engage me in constructive discussion. not kafwa fwa iwi mune. How do you guys plan on fixing the economic issues without a vision?
champion
March 4, 2015 at 7:37 pm
Walanda bwino mune…. Educated id!ot, namashinsha kukanwa atase! KAPANGE Hizambia mu ndofu yakwa noko kwena.
New Educated Zambia
March 4, 2015 at 7:49 pm
Another riffraff without anything valuable to contribute to the important problems affecting us. And these are the people in power. Wafya pa zambia. The presidency has been cheapened. Let us take zambia back on track by voting in the UPND
mj banda
March 5, 2015 at 3:38 am
US please go and fight ISIS and bring peace to all places u brought chaos and leave Zambia alone. In Zambia we hate confusion. If u give US a chance, they will give conditions like give rights to gay people