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DEBATE ON THE MODE OF ADOPTING THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECTED TO A TRADEOFF December 2003 The current debate on the mode of adopting the Zambian constitution should not find expression in a tradeoff between meeting people’s needs such as health and education on one hand and the holding of a Constituent Assembly on the other, observes the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR). According to the JCTR, subjecting such a debate along such tradeoffs is an indication of a lack of a deeper understanding of the link between a good constitution with the consequence of good governance and people’s wellbeing manifest in their ability to meet basic needs of life. Currently, the cost of basic needs measured in the JCTR monthly Basket of food and essential non-food items is K1,032,800. For the month of October, the cost of basic needs was K1,031,700. Food alone is currently costing K383,800. For the month of October food alone was costing K390,700. The downward adjustment in the cost of food only is partly on account of a reduction in the price of mealie meal. However, the cost of essential non-food items has increased mainly because of an upward adjustment in the price of charcoal, now costing K26,000 from K22,000 in the month of October. The price of charcoal is expected to increase further because of the rainy season which make both production and transportation of charcoal difficult. Undoubtedly Zambia’s harsh socio-economic situation brings into sharper focus the obvious question of “What should come first, paying attention to the current poverty and misery or addressing the need for a constituent assembly which might lead to guaranteeing people’s political and probably economic freedoms?” It is not a point of contention that a good constitution will give people the opportunity to strongly demand certain needs such as education and health and how these needs should be met. In other words, a good “people’s constitution” (which will surely depend on a Constituent Assembly) will give people the ability to make claims for improving their lives. It is the difficult economic circumstances which Zambia is facing that are leading to encouraging a tradeoff between meeting people’s basic needs and holding a Constituent Assembly. What is important to realize however, is that without a good constitution, the prospect of people experiencing improved living conditions become minimal, especially in crisis situations. The JCTR feels that if budgetary tradeoffs are necessary to fund a Constituent Assembly, cutbacks should not be made in essential social services but in non-essential superfluities such as new vehicles, overseas travels, by-elections, etc. |
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