PRESS BRIEFING BY MR WILA MUNG’OMBA, CHAIRMAN OF THE CONSTITUTION REVIEW COMMISSION, ON THE SITTINGS IN LUSAKA PROVINCE FROM 12 – 20TH AUGUST, 2003

The Constitution Review Commission, CRC, has concluded its sittings in Lusaka province. The last public sitting was in Luangwa last week on Wednesday, 20th August, 2003.

During its seven day sitting in the province, the Commission received 251 oral submissions out of a total of 693 people that registered.

The Commission also received 125 written submissions. The submissions came from Zambians of all walks of life among them housewives, peasant farmers, traditional rulers, businessmen/women, politicians, the clergy, non governmental organisations, students, accountants, lawyers, teachers, civil servants, etc..

For the same number of days, the Mwanakatwe Constitution Review Commission of 1995 received 199 oral submissions in Lusaka province compared to 251 oral submissions the current Commission has received.

This represents an encouraging progression rate of 26.1%. Details of the proceedings are as follows:

12th – 14th August: Nakatindi Hall:

137 registered

37 made oral submisions

9 written submissions,

15th August: UNZA (Group A)

62 registered

15 made oral submissions

15th August: Matero (Group B)

108 registered

29 made oral submissions

3 written submissions

16th August: Kanyama (Group A)

64 registered

22 made oral submissions

16th August: Chawama (Group B)

99 registered

31 oral submissions

1 written submissions

18th August: Kafue (Group A)

75 registered

27 made oral submissions

28 written submissions

18th August: Chongwe (Group B)

62 registered

29 made oral submissions

19th August: Rufunsa (Group B)

42 registered

26 made oral submissions

20th August: Luangwa (Group A)

29 registered

25 made oral submissions

9 written submissions

75 written submissions received through the CRC

Secretariat

Total petitioners registered: 693

Total oral submissions: 251

Total written submissions: 125

OVERVIEW

As can be seen from the figures in the foregoing, the Commission could not dispose off all the petitioners that registered at various centres due to limited time.

Officially, the Commission was supposed to close its public hearings at 17:00 hours daily but had to extend up to 19:00 hours in some instances to try and accommodate the overwhelming number of people.

Some of the petitioners in fact had to follow the Commission from one sitting to another in the hope that they would get a chance to make their submissions.

It is therefore necessary that the Commission returns to Lusaka at a later stage, to try and accommodate as many people as possible.

At the same time, I would like to appeal to Zambians to make written submissions where they are unable to appear in person.

Also, for the first time in the history of constitution making in the country, members of the defence force, police, and the Zambia Intelligence Security Service, have been given an opportunity to make submissions to the CRC.

A sitting to this effect took place yesterday for members of the intelligence service at Chamba valley. Arrangements for the Zambia Army, Zambia Airforce, Zambia National Service and other security wings, are being made.

WAY FORWARD

The Commission is firmly on track to visit all the 150 constituencies as per original programme. Next on the programme is Northern province from the 6th to 21st September, 2003.

Iam also glad on this occasion to officially launch the CRC

website:WWW.crc.org.zm E-Mail: secretariat @crc.org.zm I wish to take this opportunity to urge Zambians within and outside the country to make full use of this facility to make submissions to the constitution review process.

On its part, the CRC secretariat will make available on the website vital information such as the terms of reference, the current republican constitution, the countrywide tours by the Commission and other briefs for the benefit of the general public.

Once again, I appeal to all Zambians including non governmental organisations, religious organisations, professional associations and other interest groups to seize this rare opportunity and contribute to the constitution review process currently underway.

As I have stated before, this Commission is committed to reflect in total and accurately, the views and aspirations of the Zambian people on the type of constitution they want for this country.