Southern Africa Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Dispute (SACCORD) Executive Director Boniface Chembe says the Ministry of Justice has  presented results to the civil society, indicating that 91 per cent of Zambians have decided that Zambia should remain a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) while 8 percent want the country to exit.

In an interview, Chembe said civil society organizations recently met with some technocrats from the Ministry of Justice who presented them with the results of the submissions of the consultations on whether Zambia should remain a member of the ICC or not.

“As SACCORD, we are pleased to learn that 91 per cent of Zambians have decided that Zambia should not pull out of the ICC. This overwhelming support by Zambians is an affirmation on the part of our people that we want to continue being role models, being leaders in upholding some very high human rights standards on the African continent away from what has been observed in other African countries,” Chembe said.

“And the fact that only 8 per cent out of those who were consulted are willing to have Zambia withdraw from the ICC, that has to encourage all of us to continue supporting our democratic dispensation and our human rights  record so that we do not continue to go with the rest of the African countries whose human rights records leave much to be desired. But all and above that, who may want to have a role model that they can look up to in terms of improving their democracy as well as human rights.”

Chembe hoped that the remaining processes on the consultation would not hinder Zambians from getting their desire to remain in the ICC.

“So as SACCORD, we are happy, we hope that the remaining processes of this particular matter will not hinder the people of Zambia from getting their desire not to pull out of the ICC. So we are pleased with the results that were presented to us today and our only hope is that we can continue on this path of ensuring that we embrace good things that help not only our people but also other African countries who are in dare need of help from us as a people,” said Chembe.

The remaining processes of the consultations is tabling the matter before Cabinet as well as Parliament.