Responding to Chief Chamuka who expressed concerns over plans by some political parties to hold demonstrations over the dispute on the mode of enacting the new constitution when she paid a courtesy call on him, the opposition leader said the FDD is of the view that stakeholders should meet and discuss the way forward.
She said her party has written to the Ministry of Justice for the Minister to facilitate for a meeting with President Edgar Lungu to discuss the way forward but nothing has come to fruition.
“My preference would be to meet the president. We as a Party wrote to the Ministry of Justice requesting him to facilitate a meeting between us and President Lungu. Up to now there has been no response from the Minister’s Office. I have pleaded with my fellow leaders that demonstrating is not the best way because the situation is volatile and if we don’t sit down and resolve this matter in a civil and sober manner this country will degenerate into chaos. We want to know what clauses is the Government intending to bring to parliament and what is the rationale because as far as we are concerned our people have been consistent with what they want to see in the Constitution throughout all the Constitution Reform Commissions we have had as a country.
The challenge I have is that this President doesn’t feel that he should meet us as colleagues. Last week I met with one of the ambassadors and I said the best for our country is to meet and dialogue. After all even if we differ we still have to meet and talk,” Ms Nawakwi said.
And the opposition leader says people should not take her criticism of the Government as attacks on the President as she is only providing the necessary advice to the people in Government.
“Most of the things we say in the media is simply advice to those in office. For example, recently I was advising the President to be careful with his Minister of Finance because he has gotten a loan and now he has gone to the President and washed it on him. My advice is that it is never done that way. The Minister is supposed to defend the president but my friends from the PF say Edith Nawakwi as intelligent as you are you are insulting the president! I didn’t insult the president I said Mr. President check my elder brother Alexander Chikwanda why has he recruited you in defending him over a loan which is not supposed to be contracted in the first place.
Your Royal Highness there is no way you can contract a private loan to fund Government equipment for security it’s the same as the Katebe Katoto saga with Chiluba. President Chiluba ended up in court for similar actions and when I say, “President Lungu be careful” they say ayo ni matusi and because they have the public media they are able to say malatutubila malatutubila. Of course some things are extremely uncomfortable you can’t say Edgar because he is our President.”
Nawakwi said.
Speaking earlier Chief Chamuka of the Lenje people in Chibombo District expressed concern over plans by some opposition political parties to mobilize their members so as to hold country wide demonstrations over the impasse on the enactment of the new constitution.
His Royal Highness said demonstrations were not the solution to the current differences being faced over the constitution making process as doing so would endanger some lives.
He noted that the best way to sort out the challenges was for all stakeholders to sit down and find a common ground as demonstrations would not achieve anything.
The traditional leader further praised Ms. Nawakwi and her party for what he called progressive ideas on how to develop the country.
He said the FDD’s policy of empowering districts through decentralization of the budgeting system was a good idea which would move the country forward if properly implemented and that other political party leaders should emulate the opposition leader by engaging the people constructively on what they are offering when they are voted into to office.
FDD Says It Prefers Dialogue Over The Differences Regarding The Constitution Making Process. added by on
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Good work Mama
If opposition still want a referendum let them meet half of the cost and govt should do the rest other than yapping. Let each party contribute say mmin 5% and Upnd alone 30% towards the referendum process so that when it fails due to numbers they too should feel the pinch.
Man The Constitution is not for parties but Zambians and the Govt in power should foot the costs. Why is PF afraid of amendments?
What do you expect from lungu who thinks he is some sort of god. Lungu who is supposedly a lawyer should by now know the importance of holding talks with key stakeholders on the way forward. He should realise that the constitution is not for him or his party. The constitution is for all zambians, current and future zambians. It is very saddening when you read that the pf is of the view of sending it to parliament and hastily enacting piecemeal laws that they feel will favour them.What are they scared of? When in opposition they were crying for a revision of a constitution that reflected the current state of affairs. Now what has changed? Can zambians really trust these MMD reloaded parties? Vote UPND bane
Even if they hold the demonstration it will not fever them couse the majority fills hh is not the right person so whatever idea he comes up wether good or bad the majority doen’t consider it.
@ kanchine i ve always told u dat hh is sharper than the entire pf chaps. This government cant dialog wit anyone coz it has no program for dis country. Who would want to listen to crewless pf chaps anyway. Vote upnd & move away from such a ka restricted thinking
But the people of zambia still need them,whats your opinion about that?
some issues ought to addressed in a straight manner were u call a spade a spade….keep it u Faweza
Catfish uyo nev abwela
Can somebody brief me in summary what the article is all about? Just too long.
This is the problem we are talking about. The lack of reading culture under the pf government. Very rife especially amongst the pf cadres. Please let us learn to read and be analytical. Just advice, not trying to belittle you as I know you tend to be very emotional.
@ kanchine simple explaination for u bro.1+1=? class of 75 pupils,10 chaps say 2 & 65 pupils say its 11. Does it qualify 11 to b correct bcoz of the majority. Vote upnd for more teaching aid ! A bunch of pf can not match up with Sir HHz reasoning power !