Opposition lose constituent assembly vote

Zambia's ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has used its majority in parliament to defeat opposition plans to pass a law creating a constituent assembly to agree a new governing charter. After more than five hours of heated debate, the motion tabled by lawmaker Given Lubinda, from the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND), was put to a vote on Wednesday evening and the ruling party's majority held sway. The vote was 65 against and 52 in favour. But the Oasis Forum, an alliance of three influential church bodies, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and NGOs that had sponsored the motion said they would continue to fight for a constituent assembly. "We are very angry at this decision, which we think is a mockery and an insult to the will of the many Zambians that marched for a constituent assembly and a new constitution earlier this month," William Mweemba, president of the LAZ, told IRIN. The Oasis Forum was left "with no option but to start a campaign against all the members of parliament that rejected the constituent assembly", he said. A mass rally is to be held in the capital, Lusaka, on 10 December. "This is a follow-up to the peaceful demonstrations we held on 1 November - we are hoping the government and their supporters can see the sense in listening to people and avoid anarchy in this peaceful country," Mweemba added. A Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) set up by the government delivered a draft constitution earlier this year, which, among other provisions, recommended that a president should be elected by more than 50 percent of the vote. However, President Levy Mwanawasa rejected the draft earlier this month. A constituent assembly would consist of civil society groups, NGOs, churches, farmers unions, and the 150 members of parliament. The CRC would send its recommendations for a draft constitution to the constituent assembly, instead of to Mwanawasa. The constituent assembly would also have the authority to adopt a draft constitution before sending it to parliament to be enacted. The government has insisted, however, that a constituent assembly would be too costly an exercise for cash-strapped Zambia. Government spokesman George Chulumanda told IRIN, "This constituent assembly issue is no longer about who wins or loses. I think it's about time both sides sat down and compromised - it must be a give-and-take kind of dialogue and not a tug-of-war, because a tug-of-war won't take us anywhere." Civil society and opposition groups want a new constitution enacted ahead of next year's elections. Mwanawasa has repeatedly said a new constitution could only be enacted after elections. Mwanawasa won a narrow victory in 2002 when he garnered just 28 percent of the total votes.