IFP CONCERNED ABOUT PARLIAMENTARY SCHEDULE CLASH

Ulundi: March 1, 2005

The IFP raises serious concern about the parliamentary programme which places Public Hearings on the draft KwaZulu-Natal Constitution and Budget Hearings on the agenda on the same day, Wednesday, 2 March 2005, and at the same venue.

“As a party which places a high premium on civil society participation in constitution making, we find this arrangement untenable,” said Dr Lionel Mtshali, MPP, who leads the IFP caucus in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Parliament. The IFP has called for the Speaker’s intervention in the matter.

Dr Mtshali also said:

“Not only do these important hearings clash, but the constitutional hearings are allocated inadequate time.

“Would one be correct in assuming that the parliamentary Programming Committee places less emphasis on the constitution-drafting process than is practicable?

“One wonders what the rationale could be behind this attempt to deprive civil society of adequate time to grapple with complex issues that emanate from constitution drafting.”

Contact: Dr Lionel Mtshali, 083 256 4902