Africa-Press – Zambia. Debate over the controversial Bill 7 has intensified as former Cabinet Minister Hon. Brian Mushimba has called the entire process “illegal” and a direct threat to Zambia’s democracy.
In a detailed statement widely shared on social media, Hon. Mushimba said, “The more I read the proposals in Bill 7, the more I worry. Firstly, it’s an illegal bill on the back of an illegal process. The court has pronounced itself on that.”
He criticised what he described as deliberate attempts to mislead the public about the ruling of the Constitutional Court.
“Instead of people siding with the law, some have conveniently found ways to justify, sidestep and gaslight us,” he wrote.
“THE BILL WAS WITHDRAWN FULL STOP”
Hon. Mushimba argued that the creation of a parliamentary committee to continue handling Bill 7 does not cure what the courts already found to be fundamentally defective.
According to him, “They created a committee and have passed that as a cure for the myriad of issues the court raised in delivering judgment. The court said the process was illegal and must be vacated; the bill totally withdrawn from Parliament!”
The former Minister highlighted what he called one of the most dangerous provisions in the proposed amendments one that affects presidential elections.
He explained that under the current constitution, should a candidate withdraw or be disqualified, their political party is given time to replace them.
“Yes, this may be a lacuna and possibly can stretch the presidential election indefinitely. I get it. But it has never happened,” he observed.
However, Hon. Mushimba warned that the proposed “cure” in Bill 7 is far more damaging.
“The cure as proposed by Bill 7 is now to proceed with the elections even when candidates withdraw or are disqualified, without any recourse for replacing those candidates on the presidential ballot,” he said.
He went further, suggesting that such a provision could easily be abused by an incumbent regime.
“So the incumbent can simply do Imingalato pay off candidates to withdraw or cause their disqualifications and be the only candidate on the ballot. And that doesn’t bother you?”
“YOU WILL CRY” IF THIS PASSES, HE WARNS
Hon. Mushimba cautioned Zambians to consider the long-term consequences of endorsing excessive presidential power.
“I can’t wait for government to change and someone else comes in with all this power being given to them under this bill. Mukalila. You will cry!”
He concluded his statement with a direct and emotional appeal to lawmakers, urging them to put the country first.
“MPs, we appeal to you to throw this illegal bill out. The country is bigger than all of us. Posterity will judge you positively.”
Across the country, the hashtags #Bill7MustFall, and #ThinkOfCountryFirst continue to gain momentum as public debate deepens.
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