By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
THE opposition MMD has said its members of Parliament (MPs) decided to back the Constitution amendment Bill in the National Assembly because it was a progressive decision to take.
MMD spokesperson Raphael Nakachinda said the MMD MPs voted for the successful second reading of the Constitution amendment Bill in Parliament because they wanted to do what the people wanted.
Mr Nakachinda was speaking on Joy FM in Lusaka when he featured on the Platform radio show programme.
Mr Nakachinda said the mistake that some opposition politicians were making was that they just wanted to oppose the Bill because it was spearheaded by the Patriotic Front.
He said it was important for leaders not to be clouded in their judgement, but do the right thing instead of merely fighting the PF.
Mr Nakachinda said MMD MPs believed they were doing the right thing by supporting the Constitution amendment Bill because people wanted the Constitution changed.
He said the will of the people was way above the that of any political party, Parliament or Government.
Mr Nakachinda said MPs had a duty to bow to the people’s will and not the will of their political party.
He said the MMD had put into consideration that the PF could be insincere in their motives, but had belief that time would validate their decision.
He said the people had already told their leaders what they wanted and the process in Parliament was just an opportunity for parliamentarians to discuss each clause.
Mr Nakachinda said the referendum was for people to merely vote for or against but didn’t offer an opportunity for them to discuss clauses and make their input.
The Constitution amendment Bill went through second reading in Parliament on Wednesday last week after more than 100 MPs voted for it against 35 MPs who wanted it withdrawn.