By Staff Reporter

THE Premier (Ngambela) of the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) Mr. Manyando Mukela, refuted media report by the state broad caster (ZNBC), that the BRE supports the long standing botched Zambian Constitution Amendment Bill 10 of 2019.

Ngambela Mukela has shot down allegations that the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) member of parliament Mr. Raphael Nakachinda , held a meeting with the Khuta at Limulunga on Tuesday last week saying he presented the Bill to his majesty Litunga (King) of Barotseland.

In a statement sent to Caprivi Vision, Ngambela Mukela denied on contrary that the Khuta presented the statement to Mr.Nakachinda that states that “ having  studied the bill in detail, the BRE had unanimously resolved to reject Constitution Amendment Bill No.10 of 2019 and that it should be withdrawn from parliament ”

He however denounced that “we wish to expose this falsehood by restating our position that we are opposed to the enactment of constitutional provisions whose target is to discriminate against a section of the Zambian community”

“Barotseland appears to be the target of such draconian legislation aimed at dismembering the unity it achieved centuries ago.” Barotse Ngambela fumed.

Premier Mukela further warned that “The BRE wishes to advice the media houses to be professional in their reporting and avoid stressing irrelevant trivial issues that appeal to their preconceived agenda at the expense of the core issues related to the subject matter.”

Why the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 10 of 2019?

The Bill is aimed with the objective to amend the Constitution of Zambia as to:

• revise the Preamble in order to reaffirm the Christian character of Zambia;
• revise the principles and values of the Constitution;
• revise the electoral system for elections to the National Assembly;
• revise the period for dissolution of the National Assembly;
• revise the period of hearing and determination of a presidential election petition;
• revise the manner of election of mayor and council chairperson;
• establish the office of deputy minister;
• revise the composition of the Cabinet;
• revise the provisions relating to the establishment of commissions;
• revise the provisions relating to the payment of pension benefits and retention on the payroll;
• provide for the membership of Members of Parliament in councils;
• establish the Drug Enforcement Commission as the AntiDrugs, Economic and Financial Crimes Agency and redefine its function as a national security service;
• revise the functions of the Public Protector;
• revise the functions of the Bank of Zambia;
• revise the functions of the Auditor-General; and
• Provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.