Mulongoti: There Is No Need For SATA To Attend Constitution Indaba

MIKE Mulongoti says there is no need to compel President Michael Sata to attend the proposed meeting on the constitution-making process if he will be ably represented.
Mulongoti, who is People’s Party president, said President Sata was a busy man as Head of State and there was therefore nothing wrong with him delegating someone to represent him at the meeting.
He was commenting on Alliance for Democracy and Development leader Charles Mulupi’s remarks that President Sata should attend the April 30 constitution indaba so as to add more credence to it.
Milupi was of the view that President Sata and not justice minister Wynter Kabimba should attend the meeting organised by SACCORD so that the way forward over the constitution-making process could be brokered.
However, Mulongoti said President Sata’s presence was not necessary as long as he was represented at the meeting.
“There is no need for President Sata to be present at this meeting, as long as the Head of State commits political will to it the meeting by sending an able representative. We are human beings who are prone to illness anytime and so what happens when on that day people that should have attended the meeting fall sick and fail to show up?” he asked. “It’s not right to imbed our faith in President Sata’s presence to come up with a tangible resolution over this matter. It’s not harmful to have faith in the person who will represent him President Sata at the meeting.”
Last week, Kabimba said the government was not fighting anyone over the constitution-making process.
He said the government would be represented at the indaba being organised by the Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes.
“They (SACCORD) have initiated stakeholders, including myself as Minister of Justice, and I have already responded to SACOORD that I will be available to attend that meeting so that we can discuss and build consensus around this process,” Kabimba said.
“It is a process that requires a give-and-take approach. This is a process that ultimately must be in the interest of the people. Nobody is quarrelling with all those principals and for me, really I give my accolades to SACCORD who have constituted a constitution indaba to discuss the constitution-making process.”