Media Briefing by Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) on Proposed Amendment to Bill 10 Amendment held at Mika Lodge and addressed by YALI Governance and Legal Advisor Isaac Mwanza on Saturday 14th March 2020
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MEDIA BRIEFING BY THE YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITIATIVE ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO BILL 10 HELD AT MIKA LODGE AND ADDRESSED BY YALI GOVERNANCE AND LEGAL ADVISOR, ISAAC MWANZA
Saturday, 14 March 2020
Andrew Ntewewe, Zambia’s Justice Minister Sebestian Saizi Zulu, Isaac Mwanza, and Technical Committee Chairperson Simon Kalolo Simon Kabanda at Highland House Lusaka Zambia 13th January 2012
British High Commissioner Nicholas Woolley with Zambia’s Justice Minister Given Lubinda Thursday 13 February 2020 Lusaka
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) commends Cabinet for making the Government position known as regards public recommendations to amend the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill No. 10 of 2019. What we are particularly happy about is the public notification that Cabinet, through the Minister of Justice, will be submitting a proposal for amendments of Bill No. 10 to removal contentious provisions which did not sit well with the public.
Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President Edith Zewelani Nawakwi with Dr. Jacob Mwanza UNZA – Picture by Derrick Sinjela
As YALI, we believe the gesture by government is a sign that it has been listening to this debate from those like us who crafted and supported Bill 10 and those who have been against certain provisions of Bill No. 10. Again, we want to reiterate that when we crafted that Bill at the National Dialogue Forum, it took into account submissions from citizens who responded to the call to propose amendments to the Bill. The Bill remained a proposal to amend the Constitution and was not cast in stone.
Again, allow us to join the Minister of Justice to commend those voices who spoke against the Bill and those who championed for its current provisions. We want to particularly address the United Party for National Development (UPND), its leader Hakainde Hichilema and MPs who remained consistent that they would not support those provisions in Bill No. 10 which the majority of the Zambian people have rejected.
Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)
United Party for National Development (UPND) President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema visited Zambia’s former First White Republican President Dr. Guy Lindsay Scott on Tuesday 4th February 2020- Picture by #HakaindeHichilema
But even as we commend the UPND for its role in providing that check and balance which has enabled Government, through Cabinet, to respond, we are cautiously doing so because the history of the UPND under Mr. Hichilema has never been to support the constitution-making process, including the process they participated in 2010 and later collapsed in 2011.
What remains to be seen is whether Mr. Hichilema will now provide leadership to his party MPs to support amendments which Government intends to propose on the floor of the House. We are cautiously optimistic that he shall do so, bearing the history. Mr. Hichilema would not want anyone to take credit for enacting a Constitution which will allow our youths, women and persons living with disabilities to be represented in decision making. But this is a call that these marginalised groups have been sounding for decades.
The UPND and its MPs must remember that cleaning up this Bill and enacting it into law will ensure we have 30 days to hear a presidential petition in 2021 and beyond for any party that may be aggrieved. We need to bring sanity into the Councils where Members of Parliament must have a say in managing developmental projects and making bye laws which affect their people.
Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) President Andrew Ntewewe with YALI Governance and Legal Advisor Isaac Mwanza Mika Lodge Saturday 14th March 2020 – PICTURE by Derrick Sinjela Zambian Children Young People and Women in Development (ZCYPWD) – Zambian Developmental Media Alliance (ZADEMA
Bill 10, when enacted with agreed changes, raises a new hope to improve our governance system. Our call is for UPND MPs and leaders to show sobriety and participate in the process that must help the nation move forward. Our constitution is not perfect and there is no perfect constitution around the world. This is why Constitutions, even the oldest Constitution in the world, has undergone amendments until the 1990s.
We thank you.
