We’re making steady progress on constitution review, says Lubinda

By NATION REPORTER GOVERNMENT is making steady progress in the review of the Constitution to refine it after which consultations on the Constitution Amendment Bill 2018, will be presented for First Reading in Parliament on June 19th, 2018 by the Ministry of Justice, Parliament heard yesterday.

Justice Minister Given Lubinda told the House that his Ministry was currently preparing the draft Constitution Amendment Bill, taking into account the stakeholder comments and submissions.

Mr Lubinda said the Ministry was expected to finalize drafting of the Bill by April 13th, 2018.

He explained that the draft copy of the Constitution Amendment Bill would thereafter be subjected to a team of independent draftspersons and eminent scholars for scrutiny between 16th to 20th April, 2018.

The Minister said this in a statement on Progress of the Review of the Constitution in Parliament.

“On April 23, 2018, the Ministry will proceed with the processes of obtaining Cabinet approval in principle to introduce in Parliament, a Bill to amend the Constitution of Zambia. The Bill will then be published for thirty days as is required by law, between 10th May to 10th June, 2018,” Mr Lubinda said.

He said the Ministry would also conduct a consultative caucus for Members of Parliament (MPs) on June 12th, 2018.

Mr Lubinda indicated that this would then be followed by a consultative meeting of Secretary Generals of political parties to be convened on June 13th, 2018.

“The outcomes of the caucus of Parliamentarians and the consultative meeting of Secretary Generals shall then be presented to a summit of political party Presidents to be held on 15th and 16 the June, 2018.

“Whereas the caucus of Parliamentarians will be facilitated by the Ministry of Justice, the meeting of the Secretary Generals and the Summit of Presidents will be facilitated by the Zambia Centre for Inter Party Dialogue,” he said.

Mr Lubinda was therefore optimistic that the Constitution Amendment Bill would be presented for First Reading in Parliament on June 19, 2018.

“It is Government’s belief that through this process, all the divergent views on the Constitution from all stakeholders will have been brought to the discussion table in keeping with our theme of not leaving anyone behind,” he said.