Sata calls for new constitution in 90 days

President Michael Sata has promised Zambians that his administration will deliver a people-driven Constitution within 90 days because of its attachment to the tenets of democracy and good governance. Speaking when he officially opened the first session of the 11th National Assembly in Lusaka, Sata said democratic principles could only be enhanced through a better Constitution. "The PF Government attaches great importance to good governance and we are committed to delivering a new people-driven Constitution within 90 days. To this effect, we are in the process of consulting stakeholders with a view of establishing a committee of experts to review the recommendations of all previous constitution review commissions in order to come up with a draft Constitution," he said.
According to him, the draft Constitution would be subjected to a referendum and later presented to Parliament for enactment.

The president moreover said the Government would also promote good governance through strengthening the governance institutions and ensuring strict accountability. "You will recall that in my inaugural speech, I alluded to the fact that our country has huge problems which have been compounded by acts of bad governance and fiscal irresponsibility in recent years. The PF Government firmly stands for the rule of law and social justice." He praised the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for its hard work in ensuring that last month's elections were conducted in a successful manner. He also noted that the staff at ECZ as well as the commission's chairperson should be commended for their efforts in conducting the polls despite working under difficult conditions. The president further said the Government would work at accelerating parliamentary reforms to make Parliament more accessible, responsive and accountable to the people. He asked the country's cooperating partners to help Zambia transform its Parliament in order to enhance democracy. (Times of Zambia)