Thousands march in Zambia
2005-01-06 13:55
Lusaka - Thousands of Zambians held a protest march in Lusaka on Thursday to demand that a new constitution be adopted before presidential and parliamentary elections next year.
Two groups of protesters took to the streets of the capital before gathering at Freedom Square where several opposition, religious and civic leaders addressed the crowd of about 3 000 people.
"We want the new constitution this year!" read one of the placards carried by protestors, who also wore green ribbons, the symbol adopted by advocates of the campaign to adopt a new constitution before the polls.
Several Zambian musicians also participated in the march and sung in solidarity with the opposition and civic groups.
No money for national referendum
The opposition and civic groups are demanding that the country enact a new constitution that would reduce the powers of the president.
It would also specify that the next president must garner a majority to win victory in the elections.
But the Zambian government has maintained that the new constitution cannot be passed this year because the country has no money to finance a national referendum and a constitutional conference.
A demonstration's spokesperson Gilbert Temba said: "We demand that government should immediately announce that the new constitution will be passed this year."
Temba said demonstrations were also taking place in other parts of the country where police have granted permission.
- SAPA