GOVERNMENT has advised various stakeholders in the Constitution-making process to desist from issuing ultimatums and instead embrace dialogue that will lead to reaching a consensus and adopting a new Republican Constitution. Chief Government spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti, said the Government had embraced dialogue with the civil society and other stakeholders in the Constitution-making process, but was disappointed that some organisations were issuing ultimatums to the Government. Mr Mulongoti was reacting to a Press statement by the Constitution Coalition 2008 (CC-2008) in which it rejected the proposed Constitutional Conference (CC) and urged the Government to immediately establish a Constituent Assembly (CA) by enacting the CA bill into law. In a statement signed by CC-2008 chairman, Darius Kanse, and secretary, Gerald Mutelo, the organisation said the Government should establish the CA CA by enacting the CA Bill immediately. ... Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president, Leonard Hikaumba, has said the CC should be used to iron out various contentious issues and generate consensus in the Constitution-making process. He was happy that the CC had been formed to dialogue and resolve various issues in the Constitution-making process and advised stakeholders in the Zambia Centre for the Inter-party Dialogue (ZCID) to put national interest first. He said both the Government and other stakeholders should tread carefully in the Constitution-making process to avoid the process from being a waste of time and resources ...