MEDIA STATEMENT BY OPERATION YOUNG VOTE ON BILL 10: THE IMPASSE & WHAT IT MEANS FOR ZAMBIA AND ZAMBIANS

Nyirenda Guess

MEDIA STATEMENT BY OPERATION YOUNG VOTE ONBILL 10:THE IMPASSE & WHAT IT MEANS FOR ZAMBIA AND ZAMBIANS

Delivered @ a
Media Briefing
by

Guess Nyirenda (Mr.) On Behalf of Operation Young Vote (OYV)

@ Melsim Lodge
Kalingalinga – Lusaka

14:00 hours

22 nd March, 2020:

OPERATION YOUNG VOTE (OYV)
Lotti House, 6 th Floor, Suite 21, Cairo Road P.O. Box 30153
Email: oyvleader2000@gmail.com Cell: 0955/77-769 688

LUSAKA

22 ND MARCH, 2020: MEDIA STATEMENT BY OPERATION YOUNG VOTE ON:
BILL 10: THE IMPASSE & WHAT IT MEANS FOR ZAMBIA AND

ZAMBIANS

All protocol observed.
Dear Media Institutions, Comrades and Colleagues present. May I take
this opportunity to welcome you all to this media engagement on the
current impasse on Bill No. 10 and what it means for Zambia and
Zambians going forward. But before we begin to delve into the topic of
the day allow me to wish ourselves here, our fellow citizens across the
country and the citizens of the globe especially in countries that are
already hit by the coronavirus – Covid-19 protection and safety from
the Coronavirus challenges.
Introduction
Operation Young Vote (OYV) a Youth Non-Governmental Organization whose
mandate is around the plight of the youth/young people which include Youth
Participation, Governance and the Electoral Process, Human Rights, Leadership
and Sustainable Development and other related matters, shall continue to voice
out and offer guidance on all matters of national significance.
With the current happenings around the Constitution Amendment through Bill
No. 10, as OYV we are obliged to offer counsel to the nation, players, stakeholders
and citizens.
Fellow Citizens and the Media:

We note with delight and gratitude, the Humility and Wisdom the Government
has exhibited by accepting to make amendments to Bill 10 in view of
stakeholders and citizens’ concerns.
OYV is also of the considered conviction that among the measures of leadership is
the aspect of agreeing/accepting to meet and engage those with divergent views
in the background for consensus building an inevitable ingredient in constitution
making processes worldover.
Those opposing Bill 10 (especially the MPs) even after the proposed adjustments
to it by Government must come out of themselves (self-centeredness) and put the
country and Zambians at the centre governance and development.
Fellow Citizens and the Media:
Government has led the way in embracing the doctrine of ‘give and take’ for
consensus building in constitution making. This is commendable and at the same
times a challenge to all other players and stakeholders to take a leaf especially
MPs if Zambia is to steadily move forward on Bill 10 and generally constitution
making.
It is seemingly that the battle is no longer that of giving Zambia and Zambians a
better constitution that reflect the will and aspirations of the citizens/people but
a battle for political space and identity.
We must emphasize and encourage all to exercise the principle and doctrine of
give and take if Zambia is to have a constitution that is consistent with the values
and aspirations of its people. World over, where constitutions or rules governing
the people are progressive, the principle of give and take is given centre stage.
Fellow Citizens and the Media:
If the MPs continue to take us on this injurious trajectory (of abusing the
privilege Zambians have bestowed on them by abandoning the responsibility to
represent constituents in Parliament and formulate legislation and law) which is
not only costly but divisive, we risk as a people not having a good constitution in
the near future as no party will form an absolute majority (two thirds) regardless
of who forms government in 2021 or in the closer beyond. This essentially entails
that Zambians and the country are not a priority but battle for political space and
identity.

Fellow Citizens and the Media:

The Government through cabinet has shown magnanimity by accepting
stakeholders’ and citizens proposals. The opposition and some independent MPs
should also exonerate themselves by either showing the citizens which
components of Bill 10 they still are not comfortable with or better still produce
the kind of Bill they envisage to produce and give the people of Zambia rather
than continue hiding in the name of “the Church, CSOs and Zambians have said
this or that”.
Fellow Citizens and the Media:
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, OYV, would like to give the analogy of the two women in 1 Kings
3:16-28, who were fighting for the baby each claiming it was theirs – It took
Wisdom of Solomon to intervention by threatening to kill the baby by cutting it
into half. While the other woman accepted that the baby be killed, the true and
rightful mother to the baby opted to save the life of the child by saying it be given
to the other woman and Solomon realized who the true and rightful mother was.
This for us is what is obtaining in our politics as a country. We therefore
earnestly call on all our leaders to seriously consider sitting down together and
caucus taking advantage of the coronavirus break so as to agree (guided by the
doctrine of ‘give and take’ – which Government through Cabinet has led) on how
they deliver a better constitution to the people of Zambia as soon as Parliament
resumes.
It must be noted that the Zambian people are keenly watching the discourse and
will be the Solomon in the general elections next year. The Zambians are the final
judges. They are judging. They know who has what motives and intentions. They
will give their final verdict.
May God bless us all. Have a pleasant week ahead of you, I thank you all.
Guess Nyirenda
Executive Director
For and on behalf of:
OPERATION YOUNG VOTE