Wed, 09 Aug 2017 10:14:38 +0000
By Chikumbi Katebe
GOVERNMENT has launched the consultative process of formulation of a law that discusses the financing of political parties in Zambia.
Justice Minister Given Lubinda announced that part of the consultative process included identification of stakeholders other than political parties to come together for a one-day representative consultative workshop as a landmark event to finalize the process.
Mr Lubinda his ministry embarked on a process to draft the working document called the “Political Parties Bill, 2017” to form the basis of the stakeholder engagement over the matter.
He explained that the launch signaled the interested parties and individuals to begin to scrutinize the proposed bill and make submissions on the various platforms established for communication in the process.
He said the proposed bill provided for the establishment and management of a political parties’ fund to provide financial support to parties with seats in the National Assembly, as well as a legal framework to make the recipients accountable for the money.
“The accounts of political parties which are funded under the political parties’ fund and the submission of audited accounts by political parties.
“The source of funds for political parties, maximum amount of money to be used for campaigns during election and matters incidentals to matters specified in the clause,” he said.
He explained that the whole process of consultation should be complete before the September-December 2017 parliamentary session where it should be presented for consideration.
Mr Lubinda explained that Government identified some stake holders who included political parties as major partners, the Church through their motherbodies, civil society organisations to be part of the national consultative workshop scheduled for Lusaka to conclude the process.
He said the consultative process was an integral part of the process which allows all parties to participate and all other stakeholders like the church and civil society to participate in order to demystify any uncertainties about the bill and promote transparency in the development of the legal framework.
“Considering that the proposed draft political parties’ bill, 2017 is a new law that is being introduced, and will regulate the freedom to form political parties and their sources of financing, it is therefore pertinent that the draft bill is widely and thoroughly discussed with key stakeholders, before it is finalised and introduced in Parliament for approval,” Mr Lubinda said.
He said the process included receipt of written and online submissions from stakeholders, holding of national consultative forum for key stakeholders, consolidation of comments, draft of political parties’ bill, 2017, validation of meeting and draft bill, consolidation of final stakeholders comments into draft, Cabinet approval and the publication of the bill.
The Ministry of Justice was working with Ministry of Information, Home Affairs, Zambia Law Development Commission and the Law Association of Zambia.
He has since appealed to all political parties to take the front row in the formulation of the law that guides their very existence.
He said even the church should take keen interest to allow for transparency in the process.
