Various stakeholders have praised President Edgar Lungu for assenting to the Constitution Amendment Bill .
Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) leader, Fred Mutesa said President Lungu has exhibited courage and boldness by giving Zambians the much desired constitution.
Dr. Mutesa said the move is in the national interest as it does not favour President Lungu and the Patriotic Front party.
Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) executive director Pukuta Mwanza said the President’s assent to the document was a landmark event for the country.
“An incumbent President would ordinarily fear to assent to such a challenging Constitution such as this because of clauses such as the 50 per cent plus one election threshold but President Lungu has shown rare courage in having to assent to the document, ” he said.
MMD president Nevers Mumba said his presence at the stadium showed that MMD was a party that made decisions using principles and not emotions.
Dr Mumba said that the move signifies the beginning of a fresh pace to democratic governance.
Dr. Mumba told ZNBC News after the signing ceremony of the Constitution bill in Lusaka that the MMD is very proud of President LUNGU and all those that participated in the constitution making process.
Christian Democratic Party president Danny Pule said it was a new dawn in Zambian politics.
Former UNIP general secretary Gray Zulu said it was a momentous occasion because it signified Zambia’s growth.
The United Nations (UN) has hailed Zambia for completing a successful Constitution making process which has culminated into a Law encompassing the will of the people.
UN resident coordinator in Zambia Janet Rogan said in an interview that her organisation was elated by the progress in the country’s democratic affairs. Ms Rogan was speaking at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka yesterday after witnessing President Edgar Lungu assent to the amended Constitutional Bill.
“I want to congratulate the people of Zambia on behalf of the UN system for another peaceful step in Zambian democracy by adopting a new Constitution,” she said. Ms Rogan said the transformation of the Zambia Police Force into the Zambia Police Service would promote community driven policing and co-existence between the law enforcement agency and members of the public.
French Ambassador to Zambia Emmanuel Cohet said the new Constitution marked a milestone in the history of the country. Mr Cohet said it was a good start to the process of enacting a brand new Constitution considering that the Bill of Rights still required to be made into Law through a Referendum. SOURCE: LUSAKA TIMES
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