Explain Bill of Rights to congregants, Veep urges clergy

By SYLVESTER MWALE –

VICE-PRESIDENT Inonge Wina has called on clergymen in Zambia to explain the contents of the Bill of Rights to their congregants ahead of the Referendum that will be held alongside this year’s general elections in August.
Ms Wina said while it was a pity that the Electoral Commission of Zambia had taken long to translate the contents into local languages, church leaders should take it upon themselves to enlighten people on the Bill of Rights.
“This is important for our people, it’s a pity that it has taken so long to have the translation of section three of the Constitution detailing the Bill of Rights because these are very important fundamental freedoms that Zambians should enjoy,” she said.
The vice president was speaking in Kabwe on Friday evening when she met with clergymen from Kabwe Pastors’ Fellowship who expressed concern on the lack of awareness about the Bill of Rights.
The clergymen noted that while the Bill of Rights had been published in newspapers, no effort had been made to reach the rural areas who could not access the press.
Ms Wina noted that the ECZ which was  also the Referendum Commission was under pressure to put in place everything because the new Constitution had given the electoral body added responsibilities besides the Referendum.
“I understand that ECZ is translating the Bill of Rights in vernacular, but we should not wait, we should start explaining to our people and the best people to do it is groups like yours and NGOs because you can go very far especially to people in rural areas,” she said.
The clergymen also expressed concerns with increased levels of political violence ahead of the polls and urged the Government to bring to book the perpetrators regardless of the political affiliation.
Ms Wina said the current trend of violence was a new phenomenon to Zambia and a clear indication of high levels of desperation among politicians who were giving money to young people in order to cause violence.
In a vote of thanks, Kabwe Pastors’ Fellowship chairperson David Muwowo said the clergymen would embrace all politicians regardless of the affiliation so long such engagement added value to the welfare of citizens.
He said the pastors were happy with the plans to construct the house of prayer by President Edgar Lungu and the Kabwe clergymen had contributed K28,000 towards the building.
Pastor Muwowo said the Government should be responsible by ensuring that perpetrators of political violence were punished in accordance with the law regardless of their affiliation.