Hand-over of the Final Draft Constitution, the Draft Constitution of Zambia Bill, 2013 and the Final Report of the Technical Committee to the President of the Republic of Zambia

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE DRAFTING THE ZAMBIA CONSTITUTION
PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9th NOVEMBER, 2013
CONTACT DETAILS: 0977 792279

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE RESOLUTION ON THE HAND-OVER OF THE
THE FINAL DRAFT CONSTITUTION

The Technical Committee:

Recalling its Terms of Reference that mandated it to consult and take
into account submissions from local and international experts on
constitutional law and practice, the stakeholders and members of the
public at large, and sector groups,

Further recalling that the Terms of Reference mandated the Committee
to make full public disclosure  of the outcomes of the
constitution-making process and that through-out its interaction with
the Government and other stakeholders, the Committee had consistently
maintained that the hand-over of the Final Draft Constitution, the
Draft Constitution of Zambia Bill, 2013 and the Final Report of the
Technical Committee to the President of the Republic of Zambia
(hereinafter referred to as “the Appointing Authority”) and to the
public, simultaneously,

Acknowledging receipt of a letter from the Ministry of Justice
directing the Technical Committee to print ten (10) copies of the
documents for hand-over to the Appointing Authority, therefore,
leaving no copies for hand-over to the public and to retain
individually as members of the Technical Committee,

Reaffirming its determination to comply with the Terms of Reference
and to keep its promise to the public as a way of enhancing public
confidence in the current constitution-making process,

Resolves:
1.      not to sign the Report until clarification has been given on how
the Final Draft Constitution, the Draft Constitution of Zambia Bill,
2013 and the Final Report of the Technical Committee will be
distributed;
2.      to issue a statement to inform the public that the Committee has
been instructed to only print ten (10) copies for hand-over to the
Appointing Authority and has, therefore, found it inappropriate to
sign the Report; and
3.      to mandate the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Committee to
seek audience with the Appointing Authority with a view of
communicating the Committee’s obligation to abide by its Terms of
Reference, which are at variance with the new directive from the
Ministry of Justice on the procedure of handing-over the Final Draft
Constitution, the Draft Constitution of Zambia Bill, 2013 and the
Final Report of the Technical Committee.

Mr. Ernest C. Mwansa (0977 792279)
SPOKESPERSON
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON DRAFTING THE ZAMBIAN
CONSTITUTION