By CATHERINE NYIRENDA and MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –
THE National Restoration Party (NAREP) is in support of the decision by Government to amend some clauses in the Constitution as opposed to the holding of a referendum to enact a new one this year.
The opposition Green Party of Zambia has also thrown its weight behind Government to amend the current Constitution, to include only non-contentious clauses, ahead of the 2016 tripartite election.

. Chipimo

NAREP President Elias Chipimo said he was in support of the stance as announced by Justice Minister Ngosa Symbyakula to amend some sections of the Constitution and subject contentious clauses to a referendum.
He said the country had run out of time and money to have a new Constitution in place before 2016.
“Besides, the Constitution is not a priority among many people in Zambia, especially in the rural areas as poverty levels and unemployment was high,” Mr Chipimo said.
Mr Chipimo said this yesterday during a Press briefing at the party secretariat to highlight on the state of the nation and the future of NAREP.
He said he would soon be engaging President Edgar Lungu to share ideas on ending the challenges Zambians were facing.
Mr Chipimo said President Lungu had a hard task ahead of him after 100 days in office as unemployment remains unacceptably high and poverty levels had not changed.
He said the next 100 days of President Lungu should be dedicated to providing clear direction of where the country was being propelled to.
The President should dialogue with opposition political parties and engage them in an open and transparent manner on how to address the challenges facing the people of Zambia.
Mr Chipimo urged politicians to put politics aside and help in the development of the country.
He said the role of the opposition should not merely end at criticising but offering solutions on how best to govern the country.
“Solving the nation’s problem will require input from everyone, I urge the President not to wait for people to come to you, call them and engage with them in an open and transparent manner,” he said.
Meanwhile, Green Party of Zambia President Peter Sinkamba said that holding a referendum this year was irrational and unlikely for two reasons.
“First, the donors have ruled out funding of the referendum this year. Secondly, the activity is not included in this year’s national Budget,” Mr Sinkamba said.
This, he said, implied that if a referendum was to be held this year, then Government would have to find an alternative financing envelope besides this year’s Budget.
Using the cost of the last presidential election as the benchmark, Government needed to source in excess of US$140 million to conduct of a census, update the voters’ roll, and hold a referendum.
He, however, said going by performance of the economy in the first quarter of 2015, and outlook in the next three quarters, Government priority could focus on covering budget deficit arising from falling copper prices, the change of the mining tax regime, and depreciation of the Kwacha.
Mr Sinkamba said this in reaction to recent demands by the Grand Coalition that Government establishes a legal framework to protect the Constitution-making process before the document is taken to Parliament for enactment.
He said in a statement in Kitwe that the Green Party was opposed to this approach as it would be time-wasting time.
The Constitution-making process is already too advanced without a legal framework.
Mr Sinkamba said adequate space had been granted in the last three years for public participation in the Constitution-making processes.
“Stakeholder made unrestricted contributions throughout the three years, at district, provincial and national levels without a Constitution-making legal framework.
“The final Draft Constitution was circulated for review of final content late last year and stakeholders have raised concerns. The concerns are on land administration, right to abort, and the referendum,” Mr Sinkamba said.
He said it was therefore irrational to claim that the Constitution-making process had stalled for lack of a legal framework protection.
Rather, the process had stalled due to lack of funds to hold a referendum, which is specifically supposed to be held to seek consent from the public on whether or not to alter or amend the Bill of Rights,
Article 79 , and the Constitution Act.