Ndola — WHICHEVER way one looks at the issue, Zambia has scored significantly in building democracy. To be fair, the country can be described not only as a young democracy, but a budding one too.

The achievements in many cases outstrip the 16 years of multi-partyism.

The nation is highly spoken of now at many international fora for its adherence to such key tenets such as the rule of law, good governance, promotion of free expression and others.

At the level the country has reached, many should accept that whenever there is a conflict, the best solution is dialogue.

If the people of Zambia have come this far, the current debate on the Constitution-making process should, therefore, not be allowed to divide the country or break the spirit and the profile that has been attained since reverting to multi-partysm in 1991.

The most difficult time of the process is actually over. The beginning of the exercise was more acrimonious when some quarters not only shunned the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) but they posted unpalatable tags on the Government.

After the CRC completed its work and the report was presented, the critics, to their own admission, realised that after all, Government meant well and there was no sinister motive in the start of the process.

It is with this background that we feel the call by President Mwanawasa for stakeholders to reconcile, should be embraced with both hands. One of the key demands of democratic dispensation is the ability by people to come together as a group and chart a new cause.

By all arguments, it is for the good of the country that there should be a common voice in this matter and that is only possible when there is reconciliation.

Many a time, the Government has said it is committed to come up with a people-driven Constitution, the President reiterated this in Solwezi yesterday.

It is also encouraging to hear from the Church that any criticism leveled at Government is not meant to destroy but rather to build so that the system can succeed.

The lesson in all this is that, there is no need to tear each other apart over the Constitution. Debate we must, but it should never degenerate into name-calling and political diatribe.

The discourse can still be within the realm of democracy without lacing in insults or any form of unconventional language.

Lest people forget, a good Constitution will benefit every Zambian, it is, therefore, critical and paramount to reconcile. That is not a mammoth task for a country that has achieved so much in the development of democracy.