Explain the steps involved in a constitutional review /amendment process in zambia.cite specific examples?

In Zambia, the process of constitutional review or amendment involves several steps. These steps are outlined in the Constitution of Zambia and include the following:

1. Proposal: The process begins with a proposal for constitutional review or amendment. This proposal can come from various sources, such as the President, Members of Parliament, or civil society organizations.

2. Consultation: Once a proposal is made, there is a period of consultation with various stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations, and the general public. This is done to gather input and feedback on the proposed changes.

3. Drafting: Based on the feedback received during the consultation process, a draft of the proposed constitutional amendments is prepared. This draft is usually done by a technical committee or a constitutional review commission.

4. Debate and Approval: The draft amendments are then presented to Parliament for debate and approval. Members of Parliament have the opportunity to discuss and propose changes to the draft before it is voted on.

5. Referendum: In some cases, certain constitutional amendments may require a referendum to be held. This is usually the case for amendments that are considered to be of significant importance or that affect fundamental rights and freedoms.

6. Implementation: Once the constitutional amendments are approved, they are implemented and become part of the Constitution of Zambia. This may involve changes to various laws and regulations to align with the new constitutional provisions.

An example of a recent constitutional review process in Zambia is the 2016 constitutional amendment process. This process resulted in several changes to the Constitution, including the amendment of the Bill of Rights to include new rights such as the right to education and the right to a clean and healthy environment. The process involved extensive consultation with various stakeholders and culminated in a referendum to approve the amendments.

Constitutional Review Process in Zambia

1. Initiation:
- Can be initiated by the government or through a petition signed by at least 10% of registered voters.
- The National Assembly (parliament) establishes a Constitutional Review Commission (CRC).

2. Consultation and Public Hearings:
- The CRC solicits views from citizens, stakeholders, and experts through public hearings and submissions.
- Consultations aim to gather feedback on proposed amendments and ensure public participation.

3. Drafting of Proposals:
- The CRC analyzes the gathered feedback and drafts proposed amendments.
- The proposed amendments are presented to the government for consideration.

4. Parliamentary Approval:
- The government tables the proposed amendments in the National Assembly for debate and approval.
- Amendments require a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

5. Presidential Assent:
- The passed amendments are presented to the President for assent.
- The President may withhold assent or return the amendments to the National Assembly for reconsideration.

Constitutional Amendment Process in Zambia

6. Referendum (Optional):
- If the proposed amendments touch on fundamental constitutional principles, a referendum is held.
- A majority of voters must approve the amendments for them to become law.

7. Publication and Commencement:
- The approved amendments are published in the official Gazette.
- The amended Constitution comes into effect on the date specified in the Gazette.

Specific Examples:

- 2016 Constitutional Amendment:
- Introduced a two-term limit for the presidency.
- Created a National Assembly Speaker.
- Strengthened the powers of the Constitutional Court.
- 2021 Constitutional Amendment:
- Removed a clause that allowed the President to amend the Constitution without parliamentary approval.
- Introduced a bill of rights for children.