Africa-Press – Zambia. OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA.
Mr. Hakainde Hichilema
President of the Republic of Zambia
State House
Lusaka
3rd December 2025
Mr. President,
RE: DEMAND TO HALT THE CONSTITUTION (AMENDMENT) BILL NO. 7 OF 2025
This letter is a firm and principled demand that your Government immediately ceases all efforts to proceed with the Constitution (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025, in order to protect Zambia’s democracy, uphold the authority of the Constitution, and honour the clear will of the people. Evidence from professional bodies, civil society, and public commentary demonstrates that Bill 7 is deeply unpopular, constitutionally flawed, and politically dangerous.
First, Bill 7 stands on unconstitutional ground. The Constitutional Court has already pronounced that the process leading to the Bill did not meet the threshold of wide and meaningful public consultation required by Article 79, rendering it inconsistent with the Constitution and therefore void. Continuing with, repackaging, or reintroducing Bill 7 in defiance of this ruling would signal contempt for judicial authority and erode the rule of law that your administration pledged to restore.
Second, Bill 7 has been decisively rejected by key democratic stakeholders. The Law Association of Zambia has publicly called for the withdrawal of the Bill, warning that it lacks broad-based citizen participation and risks weakening democratic checks and balances, including by allowing parties to fill vacant parliamentary seats without elections and by bloating Parliament at the expense of service delivery. Civil society organisations have issued joint statements cautioning that any attempt to revive Bill 7 would be an attack on constitutionalism and an assault on civic space.
Third, the Bill is substantively dangerous to Zambia’s democracy. Provisions that expand Parliament while centralising power, tamper with by-elections, and weaken local government would entrench incumbents rather than empower citizens, turning constitutional reform into a tool for political advantage instead of national progress. Public voices, including members of Parliament and governance advocates, have described Bill 7 as “poisonous” and a threat to the hard‐won democratic gains of the past decades.
Fourth, the Bill diverts attention and scarce resources from the real crises facing Zambians: unemployment, the high cost of living, and over‐stretched social services. There is no evidence that increasing the number of MPs or manipulating electoral rules will put food on the table, reduce the debt burden, or improve essential services. On the contrary, adding more politicians to the payroll while citizens struggle sends a message that political elites come before the people they are meant to serve.
Your Excellency, your rise to power was anchored in promises of a people‐driven Constitution, respect for the rule of law, and the reversal of past attempts to manipulate the supreme law for partisan gain. Persisting with Bill 7, or attempting to reintroduce it through the back door, would mirror the very abuses your Government once condemned and would stain your legacy as a reformer. Zambians expect you to side with the Constitution and the people, not with a defective and self‐serving Bill.
In light of the above, it is demanded that your Government:
Publicly and unequivocally withdraws Constitution (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025 in its entirety.
Commits that any future constitutional reforms will be people‐driven, led by an independent, non‐partisan body, and anchored in genuine nationwide consultation before any text is drafted.
Prioritises implementation of the existing Constitution and delivery on socio‐economic promises over destabilising, divisive constitutional engineering.
The Constitution belongs to the people of Zambia, not to any temporary majority in Parliament or any sitting Government. History will judge harshly any leadership that chooses to ignore a clear Constitutional Court ruling and the unmistakable voice of citizens. The only constitutional and democratic course is to abandon Bill 7 completely.
Yours faithfully,
Makebi Zulu
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