TUTWA RUBBISHES ‘IGNORANT’ PUBLICATION
“It was not President Lungu who said the Constitution needed to be refined. It was UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who was crying day and night after his petition was thrown out after the 14 days within which his case was to be heard elapsed.”
-Mr Ngulube.
IT IS utter rubbish for
claim that President Edgar Lungu is using the constitution amendment process to cling to power when this was an open undertaking where everyone was free to participate, Kabwe Central Member of Parliament Tutwa Ngulube has said.
In its report dated July 12, 2019, Africa Confidential claimed President Lungu’s government had proposed sweeping changes to the Constitution that critics said were aimed at reducing scrutiny and improving his chances of retaining power in 2021.
The report lists Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Eddie Mwitwa as being among critics who have expressed “grave concern” over proposed amendments, which he said would give free rein to election interference through gerrymandering.
But Mr Ngulube said in an interview yesterday it was clear that Africa Confidential had gone to bed with opposition elements which were smelling defeat in 2021.
He said the malicious publication would not determine the path Zambians would take on the constitution refinement process.
f ica onfi entia to
Mr Ngulube said contrary to lies in its report, the process would not alter anything agreed upon at the National Dialogue Forum (NDF) and that the process was in the best interest of Zambians as it was aimed at getting rid of ambiguities and lacunas in the current Constitution.
“Zambians will not be cowed into abandoning the constitutional refinement process by Africa Confidential because it stemmed from a general consensus that the Constitution had a lot of inconsistencies which came into prominence after the 2016 general elections.
“It was not President Lungu who said the Constitution needed to be refined. It was UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who was crying day and night after his petition was thrown out after the 14 days within which his case was to be heard elapsed,” Mr Ngulube said.