Committee Drafting Constitution did not submit supporting documents – Scott

0
Dr Guy Scott
Dr Guy Scott

January 18th:  Vice President, Goy Scott, says government is still committed to delivering a people-driven Constitution that will stand the test of time to the Zambian people.

Dr Scott, who was speaking in a special interview with Breeze Fm in Chipata, regretted that some sections of the public are suspicious over government’s handling of the constitution making process.

He said the perceived delay in releasing the Draft Constitution to the public is meant to give government time to access the work done by the Technical Committee on Drafting the Constitution.

Dr Scott urged the Zambian people to trust the Patriotic Front government to come up with a people-driven constitution.

He said the PF was popularly elected by Zambians and should, therefore, be trusted with the constitution making-process as it cannot betray the trust of the Zambian people.

The Vice President also expressed disappointment that some members of the Technical Committee on Drafting the Constitution have allegedly leaked the Draft Constitution that is circulating on on-line media.

He said the act is a serious breach of the oath of secrecy that members of the committee swore when they were appointed to sit on the committee.

Dr Scott also noted that the technical committee did not present supporting documents to prove that what was contained in the draft constitution were the aspirations of the people when they presented their report.

He stated that the technical committee claimed that it had lost supporting documents of the Draft Constitution.

“We need to prove that what is contained are the aspirations of the people and this is why we need to see the supporting documents,” he said.

Dr Scott said once the report and supporting documents of the Draft Constitution are presented they will have to pass through all the processes of enacting laws.

Meanwhile, Dr Scott has reaffirmed government’s commitment to address concerns of inadequate staff at health facilities in the country.

He noted that the Public Service Commission is currently recruiting retired nurses and new graduates to fill positions that were left vacant when a number of nurses were fired for engaging in an illegal strike.

The Vice President noted that some nurses at Chipata General Hospital were fired wrongly as they were either on leave or off duty.

He observed that out of 24 nurses that were fired, only ten were replaced.

Dr Scott said government will address such issues, adding that those who were fired wrongly will be re-instated.

Dr Scott has since appealed to the Public Service Commission to hasten the recruitment of nurses.

NO COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY