Fri, 23 Feb 2018 09:10:02 +0000
By CHIKUMBI KATEBE and LINDA SOKO TEMBO
THE draft Political Parties Bill will be enacted into law before the 2021 general elections, Justice Minister, Given Lubinda has assured.
In another development, Mr Lubibda says the current constitution which was amended in 2016 has a lot of gaps.
Speaking at Government Complex in Lusaka yesterday when Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) chairperson Lady Justice Roydah Kaoma presented the final draft of the proposed Political Party Bill, Mr Lubinda said he was convinced the final draft presented to him was a true representation of the expectations of Zambians.
“I am glad to inform you that when the consultative process was commenced, the Ministry of Justice received overwhelming response from our stakeholders, who took keen interest in the Bill and they are present today to witness this historical occasion in our political life as a nation. “I want to assure you that the will of the people is listened to, so that what we end up with as an Act of Parliament shall be a product of wide consultation and consensus building,” Mr Lubinda said.
UPND director of policy and research and member of the opposition’s national management committee, Dr Choolwe Beyani has praised the PF Government for their political will in the formulation of the proposed Political Party Bill.
ZLDC Chairperson, Justice Kaoma, said there was a huge shift on the ideals of political parties hence the need to draw up a law that would help guide their functions.
Meanwhile CSOs representative, Eugine Kabilika, expressed happiness over the submissions saying he was hopeful that the proposals would be honoured and included in the final refined constitution.
