All Voices, One Constitution

CSOs want government and citizens to join hands for real constitutional change.

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia, 24 July 2025 – A coalition of 22 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7, describing it as the product of an unconstitutional process.

Delivering a joint statement on behalf of the CSOs, Josia Kalala, Executive Director of Chapter One Foundation, acknowledged the recent deferment of the Bill following President Hakainde Hichilema’s engagement but stressed that this was insufficient to align the process with the Constitutional Court’s ruling.

Kalala highlighted that the Court found the government’s initiation of the amendment process without broad-based public consultation violated the Constitution, rendering Bill No. 7 invalid from the outset.

“The Constitutional Court was clear: the decision to initiate Bill 7 was unconstitutional,” Kalala said. 

“It cannot be fixed through after-the-fact consultations. The process is void and must be abandoned.”

He emphasized that constitution-making must be grounded in transparency and public participation. 

“A flawed process produces a flawed outcome. The Constitution must reflect the collective will of the people, not a predetermined political agenda.”

The CSOs called for a new, inclusive process led by an independent body and rooted in genuine public dialogue. They urged the government to release all previous constitutional reform documents, including the 2019 Delimitation Report, to provide a solid foundation for informed public engagement.

Further, the coalition proposed a national dialogue to build a shared vision for constitutional reform, warning that piecemeal amendments like those in Bill No. 7 would only deepen executive dominance and governance weaknesses.

Kalala noted that Zambia’s current Constitution centralizes excessive power in the executive, lacks strong checks and balances, and limits institutional independence. 

He said that meaningful reform must address these systemic issues and uphold democratic values.

He also pointed out that President Hakainde Hichilema has an opportunity to distinguish himself by leading a transparent, inclusive reform process that genuinely reflects the will of the Zambian people and strengthens democratic governance.

The CSOs outlined guiding principles for the process: it must be citizen-driven, participatory, transparent, accountable, independent, and built on national consensus.

To this end, they announced the forthcoming launch of the “Constitution We Want” campaign to promote a people-led reform agenda in collaboration with other civic groups.

The statement was endorsed by 22 organisations, including ActionAid Zambia, Transparency International Zambia, Law Association of Zambia, Alliance for Community Action, MISA Zambia, and the Zambia Council for Social Development.

The coalition affirmed its commitment to working with all stakeholders to ensure Zambia adopts a constitution that upholds democracy, unity, and good governance.