DELEGATES to the Southern province constitution Convention have adopted the death sentence clause recommended in the first Draft Constitution.

After hours of intense debate over the matter, the delegates adopted recommendations on the death penalty as contained in Article 28 (3) of the first Draft Constitution.

The delegates also upheld clauses (1) and (2) of Article 28 which states that a person has a right to life which begins at conception and that he or she would not be deprived of life intentionally, except to the extent authorised by the Constitution or any other law.

After the voting exercise at Courtyard Hotel in Livingstone yesterday, 73 delegates voted in favour of the death sentence clause while 45 voted against, with five delegates abstaining.

Meanwhile, delegates to the Lusaka convention have adopted the proposal in the Draft Constitution to retain the Christian Nation declaration in the Constitution.

Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II said it was important for the people of Zambia to be guided by Christian values which she said played a critical role in the formation of human values.

Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu submitted that maintaining of Zambia as a Christian nation should act as a guiding beacon for principles and values that formed State policy.

Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda echoed sentiments raised by other delegates who called for the clause on Zambia as a Christian nation to be upheld.

In Eastern Province, the delegates stated that Zambia should maintain the Christian nation clause as contained in the Draft Constitution.

Chasefu MP Chifumu Banda said it was necessary for delegates that wanted the deletion of the clause to consider factors that would arise in the future.

The majority of delegates said it was important to safeguard Christian values because the inclusion of multi-religious freedoms could incite unnatural activities.

They submitted that Christianity needed to prevail over other religions in Zambia.