Mwanawasa adopts conciliatory tone on constitution

Zambia's President Levy Mwanawasa has extended an open invitation to civil society to contribute to the controversial constitutional review process, saying his government's goal of having a new constitution adopted in May 2008 was negotiable. During a state visit to Japan last week, Mwanawasa reportedly told Zambians living there that "The government's roadmap is not cast in concrete and steel, and anyone with better ideas can come forward. If we get better ideas of adopting the new constitution before the next elections, we will do it." He also encouraged the Oasis Forum, an influential coalition of civic and religious groups, to discuss the issue. According to the government's 'roadmap', unveiled in 2004, the draft constitution will be ready by February 2005, followed by a referendum in the first quarter of 2006 to decide how the new constitution should be adopted, and the election between April and June 2007 of representatives to form a popular body to adopt the new constitution. The government has been at loggerheads with opposition and civil groups, who are demanding that the new constitution be enacted before elections in 2006 to level the political playing field ahead of the polls; dilute executive powers; and require a presidential candidate to win more than 50 percent of the vote. Demonstrations were held around the country in December, when at least 68 people were arrested in the capital, Lusaka.