OYV wants conclusion of constitution technical committee work

Operation Young Vote (OYV) has commended Minister of Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba for the stance he has taken not to allow the Technical Committee on Drafting the Zambian Constitution (TCDZC) to have the period of completing and submitting the final draft constitution to both the Head of State and the Zambians simultaneously extended beyond June 30, 2013.

In a statement to ZANIS today, OYV Executive Director Guess Nyirenda charged that the tendency of wanting extensions especially in ventures that were lucrative to a few Zambians even when the task was noble has become the order of the day and should be stopped henceforth.

Mr. Nyirenda said it was unfortunate that the TCDZC has not heeded to the cries of Zambians that the constitution making process has taken too long to complete and gobbled huge sums of money which should have been channeled in other needy areas.

He was happy that government has prevented government from coming up with a supplementary budget of KR44 million tax payers money to be used in the constitution making process if the period is extended for six months.

He said the resources may be channeled to the forth coming referendum and not be wasted in unnecessary extensions.

Mr. Nyirenda observed that the need for extension was hypocritical as the TCDZC was on record as having told the country that its target was to finish the assignment earlier.

He said the June 30^th 2013 road map was a directive from government hence the technical committee should abide by it.

He said the TCDZC should be reminded that Zambians, especially the young people, were not ready to wait any longer and that their patience ran out way back.