By JAMES KUNDA –

POLITICAL pundits in the country have welcomed President Edgar Lungu’s  pronouncement that the constitutional clause demanding political office bearers to possess a Grade 12 school certificate, will not be amended.

. TAYALI

Zambian Voice executive director Chilufya Tayali said in an interview yesterday that the Head of State carries the mandate to protect the Constitution, thus his pronouncement is welcome.
President Lungu said in Southern Province at the weekend that the law on the Grade 12 requirement for candidates contesting ward, parliamentary and presidential elections, was in effect and he would not sign any amendment to the contrary.
Mr Tayali said his organisation was happy with the President’s stance, because the world was rapidly migrating to a state where individuals required certain competencies to enhance their survival.
“The contents of the new Constitution are not individual wishes, but those of a wider majority of people. Hence, we welcome the pronouncement by President Lungu that the clause on the Grade 12 requirement is final because that was what the people of Zambia decided,” he said.
The Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director Boniface Cheembe said subjecting the Constitution to amendments would be a tedious process.
Mr Cheembe said in an interview that amending the Grade 12 clause could not be done alone without Parliament also visiting other issues that had raised public concern.
“We have taken note of the Presidential pronouncement with a view that amending the Grade 12 clause will be like undoing everything that has already been put in place. If this clause needs to be amended, then Parliament should also look at other clauses which the public feel they are not comfortable with,” Mr Cheembe said.
He said SACCORD was in support of the new Constitution and its implementation should continue in line with the aspirations of the people.