Lusaka — THE Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) has rejected government's request for the organisation to nominate a representative to be appointed by President Mwanawasa as one of the constitutional review commissioners.

EFZ executive director Bishop Paul Mususu yesterday said they decided to reject government's request because its direction was not sympathetic to the people's interest.

"Accepting to nominate someone will be like shooting ourselves in the leg," Bishop Mususu said. "Our agenda, that remains a national tool, is that we want a constituent assembly and it will remain so."

Bishop Mususu wondered why government wrote to his organisation last month, when it knew very well that EFZ was part of the Oasis Forum which was calling for a constituent assembly. He said there was no need for the constitutional review commission which would be subjected to cabinet and presidential decree.

Bishop Mususu expressed disappointment with government's attempt to divide the Oasis Forum members through individual engagements. He said his organisation would not do anything outside Oasis Forum. Bishop Mususu said there was no justification for EFZ to nominate someone whose appointment to the constitutional review commission should be subjected to the discretion of the President.

"We will not entertain government's attempt to divide us," Bishop Mususu said. "We have enough recommendations from the Chona, Mvunga and the Mwanakatwe commissions which can easily be reviewed." He said the only way forward for the country was to deal with the mode of formulating the country's constitution.

Confirming having been asked by government to nominate a member from the NGOs, Non-Governmental Organisation Co-ordination Committee (NGOCC) executive director Grace Kanyanga said she would disclose her organisation's stand after consultations with Oasis Forum.

"We are meeting as Oasis and we will come up with a common stand," said Kanyanga.

Last year President Mwanawasa announced his intention to appoint a constitutional review commission. Oasis Forum have instead called for a constituent assembly to avoid government's interference during the review of the country's Constitution.