Former Secretary to Cabinet Dr Sketchley Sacika has called for genuine dialogue on the political situation in the country in order to identify shortcomings in government before making any changes to the national Constitution.

And Dr Sacika says Justice Minister Given Lubinda should immediately withdraw the Constitution Amendment Bill from Parliament in order to facilitate the process of a genuine dialogue.

In an interview, Dr Sacika charged that Lubinda had made changes to the Constitution of Zambia under the pretext that he was removing lacunas, which if implemented could have far-reaching implications on how the country was governed.

“Given Lubinda was once a rising star on the Zambia’s political horizon. But he has messed himself up over the discredited National Dialogue Forum. Under normal circumstances, he should resign as minister. Amending the Constitution cannot be a partisan affair done through tricks. Lubinda’s attempts to characterize NDF as an autonomous project not connected to PF party is the most deceitful gesture a minister of a government can conjure. The NDF was a project of the PF government intended to achieve PF political objectives, it did not create features. The fact that PF has failed is a serious indictment on Lubinda. Following the PF’s rejection of NDF resolutions and in view of the overwhelming rejection of the resolutions by the people of Zambia, how can Lubinda still proceed to table the bill in Parliament? It is difficult to see what Lubinda is up to,” said Dr Sacika.

“We must have genuine dialogue on the political situation in the country in order to identify the shortcomings in our government system before the changes to the Constitution can be done. Lubinda should immediately withdraw the Constitution amendment bill in order to facilitate the process of dialogue. Under the pretext that he is removing the lacunas from the Constitution, Lubinda has made changes to the Constitution which if implemented could have far-reaching implications on how our country is governed. How can a minister give to himself such powers to make a Constitution which suits his purpose? The beating that Lubinda received from PF cadres at Kabwata market was not ordinary thuggery, it was organized as a message to him that he should seriously reconsider his position as minister.”