14 December 2007
Ndola — MORE than 300 members of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) yesterday took oath, with Chief Justice Ernest Sakala urging them to put aside their political, organisational and personal interests while inside the conference.
And three Patriotic Front (PF) members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday rescinded their decision to participate in the NCC.
Speaking after the swearing in ceremony for the members of the NCC at Mulungushi International Conference (MICC) in Lusaka yesterday, Justice Sakala said the delegates should look at the Constitution as a supreme Law that knew no creed, tribe, gender and politics.
"It is my hope that as you start sitting, every member shall put his/her party or organisation affiliations behind and work collectively as members representing various groups in Zambia, working to come up with a good constitution that will be in the interest of all Zambians.
"It is every Zambian's expectation that in deliberating the Constitution, you shall take into consideration the needs of all Zambians irrespective of whether one is rich or poor, physically challenged, woman, man, child or convict," he said.
The NCC had generated a lot of debate with people expressing strong diverse views at different levels.
The chief justice also urged the 338 members of the NCC to take on board all the views of Zambians including those of individuals and organisations who had declined to be part of the conference.
Justice Sakala urged the NCC delegates to take into account all the views being expressed and that they should not look at individual needs and perception.
The Mfuwe MP said the swearing in ceremony was a significant chapter in Zambia's history as it gave hope to all the citizens who had longed to have a Constitution that would stand the test of time, and all the members of the NCC needed to reflect deeply on the importance of the task and responsibility the Zambians had bestowed on them.
Justice Sakala said as members of the NCC, they needed to realise that the oath they had taken contained very important and strong words, thereby the need to appreciate the words and language used carefully to appreciate the work before them.
He said words and sentences like impartially, fully and to the best of my ability, were not randomly picked from the dictionary but deliberately and consciously included in the oath to indicate the seriousness of the exercise.
And the three PF MPs who on Wednesday registered and collected allowances went back on their decision yesterday and declared that they would return the money and would not participate in the NCC.
Mfuwe MP, Mwimba Malama, Mandevu MP Jean Kapata and Ndola Central MP Mark Mushili all said that they had changed their minds.
He said he got K6.2 million which he would return since he was not going to participate in the conference.
Ms Kapata who was also on 5 FM radio programme with Mr Sata also announced that she had decided not to participate in the NCC.
Mr Mushili also said that he had never acknowledged the letter he received from the Secretary to the Cabinet and that he had since taken back the allowances.
In another development, the United Party for National Development and the PF MPs who defied their party's directive not to attend the NCC yesterday said they did not do so for monetary gain.
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema said an interview in Lusaka that his members that would be participating in the NCC were there to ensure that a people-driven Constitution was arrived at.
He said the Constitution must be good and would ensure the betterment of the people of Zambia and give hope to the children who are the future leaders.
Spokesperson for PF MPs who have decided to attend the NCC, Peter Machungwa said the MPs, mayors and councillors who had decided to participate in the NCC considered the Constitution as the main law and foundation of all laws in the land.
Dr Machungwa told a media briefing after the swearing in ceremony that it was essential that the PF leaders strengthened the position of those with similar views in the NCC in whatever way to improve the outcome of the deliberations on the Constitution.
Dr Machungwa said 27 MPs, six mayors and two councilors had registered to participate in the NCC deliberations while several others had indicated in writing to Secretary to the Cabinet that they would participate.
"It is their considered view that a total withdrawal from such an important task will not serve the interest of our constituents and the people of Zambia, rather it will even give greater opportunity for those who may not mean well," he said.
He said that the MPs intended to continue to push for provisions that would benefit the people of Zambia.
"As regards disciplinary threats against us, it is our hope that common sense will prevail and that the divide and rule tactics being used are unlikely to yield positive results as we hold the view that an injury to one is an injury to all of us as members, including the party president," he said.
United Liberal Party (ULP), Sakwiba Sikota said this was the first time the Zambian people with diverse views had come together to chart the way forward and come up with a good Constitution.
NCC secretary Russell Mulele said registration for the members who had not been sworn in would continue up to Monday next week.
He said the last swearing in ceremony would take place on Tuesday, December 18, in readiness for the first sitting on Wednesday December 19 2007.
Mr Mulele urged members that had not yet registered to quickly do so at the secretariat, which would remain open up to Monday December 17.
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