The National Dialogue Forum (NDF) has rejected the proposal to merge the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court into one court and maintained the status quo with an addition that the Chief Justice will be allowed to sit on both Courts.
The Forum has also adopted the resolution to amend Article 81 of the Constitution of Zambia to allow Members of Parliament run for a full term of 5 years until the general election.
NDF spokesperson Isaac Mwanza said there has been general observation that some provisions which provide for detailed matters must be relegated to subsidiary legislation to be enacted through an Act of Parliament.
Mr. Mwanza said these provisions included provisions such as proceedings of the National Assembly, removal of Clerk of the National Assembly as provided in Articles 75 to 80 of the Constitution of Zambia.
He said the Forum also resolved that matters which are connected with amendments that have been provided such as reintroduction of Deputy Ministers be discussed extensively as part of secondary matters.
Gospel Envoys Presiding Pastor Pastor Choolwe Mudenda has warned delegates attending the National Dialogue Forum not to temper with the Christian Nation clause.
In a statement, Pastor Choolwe warned that delegates at the NDF don’t take the country backward.
“You dare touch the Christian nation clause you will find out that we are meek but not weak. We have so many options from praying you out to literary mobilise to vote against you irrespective of party,” he said.
“And some of you shameless NGOs be warned. We know some of you sometimes speak from your bellies not your conscience . But even if you are poor and speaking for your sponsors have enough dignity to preserve morals and our identity.”
“We closed this Christian Nation vs Secular State thing in President Mwanawasa’s time. The Willa Mung’omba team received enough spiritual and intellectual grounds as to why the so called secular proposal is total confusion.”
Pastor Choolwe warned delegates that the Church is watching what they are doing.
“We are watching and for defending the cause of the Lord we will speak, we will mobilise and we will act. Do not mistake our silence for being docile. Far from it. Choose what to play with. Ask Nebuchadnezzar or Herod if you deem yourselves so powerful. I hope what we are hearing is not true,” he dared.