afrol News, 4 January - Zambians agree on the need for a new constitution, as promised by President Levy Mwanawasa in 2003. While the government prepares for a new constitution to be approved in 2008, a new coalition of civil society and the opposition however threatens to take to the streets if the new constitution is not ready before the 2006 elections.

The Zambian opposition already demonstrated its power on 20 December, defying a police ban to protest the government's constitutional process. At least 65 people were arrested in the protest march, including several members of the Lusaka parliament.

The election of President Mwanawasa by a very low percentage of Zambians had made the need for a new constitution obvious. A second poll round is currently not an option when a candidate gets less than 50 percent of the vote - the candidate with most votes becomes President.

President Mwanawasa was aware of his lack of popular legitimacy when taking office, He further agreed to civil society groups, saying Zambia's constitution is limiting the human rights of its citizens. Therefore, the President in May 2003 decreed a 41 member Constitution Review Commission, which so far has collected submissions from the public and works on a draft report.

The schedule of the Commission's work has however upset the opposition and civil society groups. A roadmap was announced, which foresaw the enacting of the new constitution by 2008, two years after the next presidential poll. President Mwanawasa thus could again escape a popular referendum on his powers.

Late last year, opposition parties and civil organisations in Zambia grouped to form Constitution Coalition 2005, which demands constitutional reforms this very year. Demonstrations started in December and the coalition plans to stage further mass action throughout the year, whether authorised by the police or not.

New countrywide protest marches are already planned for Thursday, this time with police approval. The coalition is hoping to secure a larger debate among Zambians, also outside Lusaka, and slowly increasing the demand for a more including a rapid process to draft a new constitution.

The government of President Mwanawasa this week gave in to one of the coalition's demands and start a "new dialogue" with the opposition to gather for its opinions. The government however refused to change its timetable on the constitutional process, sticking to 2008 for the reform's enacting.

Also the opposition's call for a more representative Constituent Assembly was turned down by government. According to the opposition coalition, the current Commission is mostly composed of presidential appointees and President Mwanawasa had too much powers to interfere with the process.

Zambian Information and Broadcasting Deputy Minister, Guston Sichilima, yesterday urged the opposition to allow "the due process of the law to be followed" and stop the announced protests. He indicated that the opposition and civil society groups were manipulating Zambians into demonstrating.

Mr Sichilima appealed to Zambians not to participate in the announced demonstrations as they would "not benefit the nation." The Deputy Minister further claimed that the opposition and civil society leaders were promoting "personal interests".

By staff writer

© afrol News

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