DEGHA ELATED OVER HAILTING OF CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT

Governance and Human Rights Advocates (DEGHA) has welcomed the move to push the constitution amendment process to September to make way for the inter-party dialogue process.

This was a directive made by Republican President Edgar Lungu to move the constitution amendment process to September this year in order to pave way for the dialogue process.

DEGHA Director, Gerald Mutale said the idea to halt the constitution amendment process in order to focus on dialogue was important to settle political differences that were causing chaos in the country.

Mr Mutale was speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation in Ndola yesterday.

“Focusing on inter- party dialogue is important because once it is successful, it has the ability to produce positive results for the Zambian economy and its people. Some of the issues to be discussed during dialogue process, border on the constitution amendment.

“This is not to say that the constitution amendment process is not as important because it is, but we first need to ensure that the environment in which the constitution amendment is being made is conducive and peaceful,” he said.

He noted that once the dialogue process was successful, it would pave way for positive contributions from political party leaders which will benefit the entire Zambian population.

Mr Mutale, however, advised government to ensure that it was transparent in engaging all stakeholders in the constitution amendment process.

He said the constitution amendment process needed to be taken serious especially that it was not for political parties but for the Zambian people.

Mr Mutale said the amendment process should not be left to politicians only but should encompass all stakeholders.

He appealed to political party leaders to take the dialogue process seriously while on the other hand the government should ensure that the constitution amendment process was clear and highly consultative.