USA-based Zambian constitutional making expert, Professor Muna Ndulo says the current environment in Zambia is not conducive to dialogue over the development of a durable constitution.
Professor Ndulo recalls that constitutions inherited by former British colonies at independence were not fully democratic as they were negotiated settlements with Britain.
He notes that in the period between independence and the late 1980s, instead of democratizing the independence constitutions, government made several amendments to the document and instead concentrated power in the presidency, thereby making the constitutions even more undemocratic than they were at independence.
Professor Ndulo however cautions that the current atmosphere in Zambia is not suitable for negotiations because currently, the environment does not promote consensus building.
He said Zambia does not need any more constitutional commissions because there is a lot of information from previous commissions allowing for constitutional development.
Professor Ndulo states that Zambia should realize the importance of expertise in the development of a durable constitution, adding that the issue of consulting stakeholders remains one of the challenges in the development of a durable constitution in Zambia.
PHOENIX NEWS