NGOCC Advocates for a Clear Road Map for the Constitutional Review Process, Demands Stand-Alone Referendum

By Samuel C.C Mwanakatwe

In the past two weeks, NGOCC has engaged some stakeholders in Mpika, Kasama, Kabwe, Mansa, Solwezi, and Mufulira on the need for Constitutional reforms and the inclusion of the expanded Bill of Rights in the Constitution. The Zambian Bill of Rights remains largely inadequate and the need to expand it to include economic social, cultural, and environmental rights cannot be overemphasized. Other notable gaps in the Bill of Rights include its lack of gender-neutral language, its language being too technical, its lack of domestication of some international instruments, and the lack of strong controls on presidential power to declare an emergency, among others.

As the New Dawn government committed through its Manifesto (p.35), to “Revive the process of expanding the Bill of Rights to integrate economic, social, and cultural rights”, we are desirous to see this come to pass as the benefits will be far-reaching, especially for women and girls.

In the next few weeks, more provinces will be engaged to raise awareness of the need for Constitutional reforms.

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