Avoid a constitution that favours ruling party, UPND told

By KETRA KALUNGA

AVOID coming up with a constitution that serves the interests of the ruling party as the nation embarks on the constitutional review process because that would be damaging to the country’s young democracy, youths have advised the ruling UPND.

They have urged Government to ensure that the Electoral Process Act is clearly defined during the review process to avoid the current situation in Kabushi and Kwacha constituencies which has denied the people representation in parliament.

Zambia National Youth Think Tank, Executive Director Mumba Tebulu said in an interview that it was dangerous for Zambia as a young democracy to have a constitution that serves the interests of the ruling party because political parties come and go.

Mr. Tebulu said the UPND administration should ensure that at the end of the review process, they have a constitution that serves the interest of Zambians and not politicians as that would be detrimental to the country’s growing democracy.

“It is very dangerous for a young democracy to have a constitution in place that serves the interest of the ruling party.  We need a constitution that speaks to the interests of the country,” he said.

Mr. Tebulu also urged the government to ensure that the constitution review process clearly defines the Electoral Process Act to avoid the current situation in Kabushi and Kwacha constituencies which has denied the people representation in parliament.

He said the people of Kabushi and Kwacha constituencies have been denied leadership because of the gaps in the Electoral Process Act hence the need for the piece of law to clearly be defined.

Mr. Tebulu said there was need for the government and stakeholders involved in the constitutional review process to address the challenges the country was facing with regard to the constitution.

“We need clauses within the constitution that will clearly define the terminologies in the Electoral Process Act, the case involving the Kabushi and Kwacha constituencies has been in court since last year, denying people representation and leadership,” he said.