ZAMBIA: First draft of long awaited constitution has completed in Lusaka, technical team call on members of the public to make submissions

Record ID: 863411

  • Title: ZAMBIA: First draft of long awaited constitution has completed in Lusaka, technical team call on members of the public to make submissions
  • Date: 2nd May 2012
  • Summary: LUSAKA, ZAMBIA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ZAMBIA'S PRESIDENT MICHAEL SATA SWEARING IN NEW CABINET
  • Embargoed: 17th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Zambia
  • City:
  • Country: Zambia
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACSBGOKCCWXHRI37PKEP55UZRJ
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  • Story Text: The first draft of Zambia's long awaited constitution has completed in Lusaka with the technical team drafting the document calling on members of the public to make more submissions to the document.
    Zambia launched its first draft of a new constitution this week, a move welcomed by civil society and the public after four previous unsuccessful attempts to come up with a new charter for Africa's top copper producer.
    The draft was available online soon after a technical committee appointed last year to see the process through released the document on Monday (April 30).
    Zambians have 40 days to discuss and comment on the draft which was made public to allow for a consultative process.
    "Its accessible, every Zambian can access it, those who are outside and within. The other great part that I like about it is the swearing in of the president like after 14 days," said Judy Kaoma, a Lusaka resident.
    The draft made several recommendations including a 50 percent plus one majority for the election of a presidential candidate as well as dual citizenship.
    Currently Zambia's constitution requires both parents of a presidential candidate to be Zambian by birth.
    If the draft is adopted, a Zambian by descent of either parent can run for the presidency and a new Head of State would be sworn in two weeks after the election results are announced, giving room for verification and redress of complaints that may emerge.
    Civil society organisations and political parties welcomed the release of the document describing it as an important step towards Zambia's improved democracy.
    Committee spokesman Simon Kabanda said the the public's submissions and recommendations were welcome.
    "We got input from documents through which people have spoken before, so we want people to look at what we have produced from those documents and be able to validate it, be able to improve it, make comments and ensure that the process is people driven because without their input we cannot say that the process is people driven," said Kabanda.
    Zambia's President Michael Sata announced plans to overhaul the constitution soon after he was elected to office last year, as part of a series steps in his top-to-bottom review of the country's policies.
    Much of Sata's September election victory was built on a platform of re-balancing the economy in favour of local investors rather than foreigners.
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