By ANDREW MUKOMA
PROJECT Support Learners Zambia (PSLZ) has high expectations of President Hakainde Hichilema’s speech to Parliament this Friday.
PSLZ Livingstone Coordinator Nyambe Mutete said the organisation was confident that the President would give an inspiring speech to address various needs and expectations of stakeholders and the general citizenry.
Mr Mutete said it was the expectation of his organisation that the President would give policy direction which would take the nation to a higher level.
“Coming from 2021 divisive campaigns and elections the call for unity and peace in the country should be emphasized. This is because peace and unity are extremely vital for national development.
“It is our expectation that the President will call for Members of Parliament (MP)’s to make amendments or refine certain articles of our Constitution.
It is a well known fact that if our constitution is left untouched, the unnecessary misinterpretations of some articles that are not clear will continue and can eventually result in conflict instead of it being the main tool for conflict resolution,” he said.
Mr Mutete cautioned parliamentarians against changing the people’s submissions as contained in the constitution in the process of refining certain articles.
“Furthermore, PSLZ is aware of more numbers of the ruling UPND MPs compared to the opposition and Independents in parliament, but we urge them to seriously consider views of the opposition and Independent MPs,” he said.
Mr Mutete urged the UPND not to use arrogance of numbers but should consider needs and interest of Zambians first.
He reminded all MPs that governance was also about accommodating constructive and divergent views.
“We expect that the President will encourage provision of effective checks and balances to Government by the opposition.
“PSLZ also wish to urge the President, parliamentarians and the nation at large that advocacy for inclusion of enhanced Bill of Rights should continue in order for us to have a constitution which we desire in the next one to two years for purposes of avoiding politicization of the process,” he said
