Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Tuesday assented to a bill that ushers in a new constitution with the Zambian leader saying the move signals a new era for the country’s political dispensation.
The Zambian leader said he has kept the promise he made during his inaugural speech on January 25 where he promised to deliver the constitution before the 2016 general elections.
“This constitution-making process has cost us far too much. We must close this chapter. The nation and people of this country will forever remember this day as one that brought us to the shores of giving ourselves a truly people-driven constitution since attaining independence in 1964,” Lungu said in a speech delivered to hundreds of people who thronged the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, the country’s capital.
“The journey has been long and hard, but the quest by our people to have a constitution that mirrors their collective aspirations and hopes for the country has never wavered,” he added.
The constitution amendment bill was approved by parliament in December last year.
The Zambian leader hoped that the amendment to the country’s constitution will serve as an instrument of national unity and social cohesion because its contents were a true reflection of the aspiration of the wider section of society.
“This document must, as much as possible, speak to the broadest interests of the people. It must reflect and aspire to deliver the greatest assurance to the greatest majority of our people, if not all,” he added.
The amended constitution comes with new clauses such as the 50 percent plus one requirement for a presidential winner, a running mate clause for all presidential aspirants, the establishment of a Constitutional Court and Court of Appeal.
It has also included the dual citizenship clause and removed the parentage requirement which demanded that all presidential aspirants should have both parents born in Zambia as well as removed the holding of a presidential election in case an incumbent president dies as the vice-president will not automatically be required to became president.
Zambia has had four constitution review process since independence from Britain in 1964 and analysts have said the processes have been costly ventures to the country.
Source: Xinhua
