We will not support Constitution Amendment Bill without dialogue – UPND

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The Opposition UPND has vowed not to support the Constitution Amendment Bill when it is tabled in parliament.

On Friday last week, Justice Minister Given Lubinda told Parliament that cabinet had approved the roadmap for the constitution amendment process.

Lubinda further disclosed that government will spend K2 million on the process and asked stakeholders among them political parties to participate and support the process.

But addressing a media briefing this morning, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, accused the PF government of dodging the dialogue process to avoid reaching consensus on the constitution and subsequently manipulate the contents of the document.

Hichilema, who was flanked by members of the opposition alliance, said Parliament cannot decide on behalf Zambians, the contents of the constitution and stressed that citizens should decide through the national dialogue on a document that will represent the aspirations of the people.

“Parliament cannot represent the interests of all Zambians, the 17 million Zambians must decide what goes in the constitution not parliament which is the child of the people’s constitution,” Hichilema stated.

And National Democratic Congress (NDC) consultant Chishimba Kambwili said: ““We need to dialogue and agree on what should be contained in the document so that when the document goes to parliament, we don’t waste time debating it.”

Kambwili added that it is unacceptable for government to spend K2 million on the constitution making process to place provisions that will favour the PF’s stay in office.