Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has appointed a commission to draft a new democratic constitution for the country within a year, a government gazette said on Saturday.
Mwanawasa has tasked members of the 41-strong commission led by prominent lawyer Willa Mung’omba to find out if Zambians want the death penalty abolished, among other issues.
The commission will ”examine and recommend the elimination of provisions which are perceived to be discriminatory in the constitution,” the government gazette adds.
Mwanawasa has also asked the commission to recommend to his government how a new constitution could be adopted.
Members of Zambian civil society have been calling for a special conference to adopt a new constitution.
Meanwhile, five organisations including the Roman Catholic Church have refused to participate in the commission, saying they want government assurances the draft constitution will not be doctored to suit Mwanawasa’s interests.
”They have exercised their democratic right not to participate in this important exercise. Indeed in a democracy you cannot all have the same views,” Mwanawasa said. – Sapa-AFP