Civic groups condemn a third term for Chiluba

A broad group of civic organisations, including the church, have urged Zambian President Frederick Chiluba to "exercise statesmanship by nambiguously pledging to uphold, protect and defend the constitution of Zambia and not contest the 2001 presidential elections". The call was made in Lusaka on Wednesday during one of the biggest civic gatherings in the country since 1991. The meeting - convened by The Law Association of Zambia, the Zambia Episcopal Conference, The Christian Council of Zambia, The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia and the Non-Governmental Organisations Co-ordinating Committee - attracted a large number of delegates, who emerged with a hard hitting message that they dubbed the 'Oasis Declaration'. The convenors told IRIN on Thursday that the meeting was held to promote and conduct public debate on Chiluba's alleged intention to run for a third term of office, and to defend the legitimacy of the country's constitution and presidency. The meeting was seen by some diplomats and human rights workers as a clear sign that the majority of Zambians do not want Chiluba to amend the constitution and seek a third term of office. Participants said in the declaration that Zambians had consistently petitioned various constitutional review commissions since 1972 to limit presidential tenure to two terms of five years. "Therefore, the orchestrated demands to amend the constitution based on partisan politics fly in the teeth of the will of the people of Zambia," the declaration read. The gathering said in its declaration that the debate surrounding the possible amendment of the constitution to give Chiluba an opportunity to stand for re-election was "an ill-considered attempt at legitimising an illegitimate or unlawful objective and desire to subvert the constitution". The declaration called on national assembly representatives to respect the will of the Zambian people and not to "abdicate their responsibilities to the Zambian people for the love of money, power or personal aggrandization". But it also called on ordinary Zambians to protect their democracy. "The forum calls upon the women, men and the youth of this country to close ranks and resist ever again from being used and abused in any political process for selfish political ends that may threaten our nation's peace and security. The forum calls upon traditional leaders as custodians of our national heritage to continue upholding our cultural values and not to be used as instruments for manipulation," the declaration read. Executive director of the human rights group Afronet, Ngande Mwanajiti, said on Thursday that the gathering had also decided to reject a suggestion for a referendum on the issue since the various constitutional review commissions had already taken people's views into account. Meanwhile, the European Union, which through its funding arm the European Development Fund had pledged US $5.5 million in aid for the upcoming election, will be watching closely. A diplomatic source told IRIN on Thursday that 70 percent of the money had not yet been disbursed and that a Zambian government decision to amend the constitution could result in the money being withheld.