By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
UNITED States Ambassador to Zambia Eric Schultz has said that stakeholders should support the adoption of clauses that deal with elections in the Constitution through Parliament.
Mr Schultz said this would ensure that the clauses were dealt with before the general elections next year.
He said this last week when he took questions from journalists in Lusaka.
Mr Schultz reiterated that it was important to adopt a new Constitution through a referendum and that it was appropriate that the referendum was set to take place alongside the general elections.
He, however, said it was important that matters that concerned elections were dealt with before the elections.
“We are supportive of Government’s two-track approach on the mode of adoption of the Constitution. Non-contentious issues that deal with the elections should be done in advance.
“For example, the question of the Vice-President being equally elected by the people as they vote for the President,” Mr Shultz said.
He also said the issue of the 50+1 votes in a presidential election could be dealt with before the general elections.
Mr Shultz said a referendum was expensive and should be planned for properly before embarking on it.
He said, most importantly, the adoption process should be transparent and inclusive.
Every Zambian needed to feel part of the new Constitution.
Mr Schultz also said a Constitution was a foundation of a country and should, therefore, not be changed frequently.
He said it reflected the will of the people and was able to stand for many years.