The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has demanded that the Government make public the report of the constitutional Expert Panel, also known as the ‘Draft Zero’, which is expected to form the basis for the final draft of a new constitution.
According to the CPA, it is evident through the detailed critical commentaries on its contents appearing on national media, that the document has been leaked despite not been made public by the steering committee.
“We are thus in an extraordinary situation in which critics of constitutional reform are shaping the public debate on a future constitution, while proponents of reform as well as the public remain in the dark about the proposals before the Steering Committee,” the communique released by the CPA said.
According to the CPA, this has now removed any reasonable justification based on confidentiality which has so far prevented the publication of this document.
The organisation also noted that despite the political opportunity for a new Constitution being squandered, the government, however, owes a duty to the public that entrusted it with the responsibility for constitutional reform, in 2015.
“The CPA accordingly demands that the document known as ‘Draft Zero’ be published forthwith. It is the least the Government can do to demonstrate some respect for the goodwill and credulity of its citizens,” the communique further said.
The ‘Draft Zero’ produced by several legal experts which is reported to have been submitted to the Steering Committee sets out a scheme for a new Constitution based on the recommendations of the Sub-Committees of the Constitutional Assembly which made its report in 2016, and the Steering Committee’s Interim Report of 2017. The mandate of the Expert Panel was to produce a suitable discussion paper incorporating various representations. The Constitutional Assembly, represented by the whole Parliament, is expected to come up with a draft constitution, which is considered a political document until it is passed in Parliament with a two-thirds majority and approved at a referendum by the people.