Nationwide Protest Planned Against Bill 7

Oasis Forum Relaunches “Coalition Against Bill 7,” Rejects Government’s Constitutional Reform Process

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia24– (November 10, 2025) -- The Oasis Forum has relaunched the “Coalition Against Bill 7” in protest against what it describes as a government-backed attempt to legitimise the discredited Bill No. 7 of 2025 through the Technical Committee appointed by President Hakainde Hichilema to lead the current constitutional reform process.

Speaking during a media conference held at Mary Kazunga Hall at the NGOCC Secretariat in Lusaka, Forum representative Lungusani Zulu said the coalition will spearhead nationwide campaigns to resist the process, which it believes is politically driven and unconstitutional.

Zulu announced that the Forum, which brings together the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC), and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), will not participate in the ongoing consultations being conducted by the Technical Committee.

“We refuse to be part of a process designed to sanitise an illegitimate Bill. The Technical Committee’s work is not inclusive, not transparent, and serves narrow political interests rather than the aspirations of citizens,” Zulu said.

Zulu said the Forum’s primary concern is that the Technical Committee was appointed without stakeholder consultation, making it unrepresentative and accountable only to the appointing authority — the President. 

He added that the absence of a legal framework to guide and protect the committee’s work exposes the process to “undue executive influence” and undermines the principles of transparency and independence.

The Forum also warned that the timeline for the reform process is rushed and politically motivated, as it appears tied to the 2026 General Elections, focusing only on electoral amendments rather than a comprehensive constitutional review.

“What we are witnessing is not a people-driven process but an election-centered exercise aimed at strengthening the ruling party’s position ahead of 2026,” Zulu charged.

The Oasis Forum accused the government of violating the Constitutional Court’s ruling in the case of Munir Zulu and Celestine Mukandila vs Attorney General (2025/CCZ/009), which declared the initiation of Bill No. 7 unconstitutional and therefore null and void. 

Zulu noted that the continued presence of Bill 7 on the floor of Parliament demonstrates the government’s unwillingness to respect court decisions and uphold the rule of law.

“Bill 7 is dead. Reviving it through the Technical Committee is a direct contempt of the Constitutional Court’s judgment,” he stated.

As part of its renewed campaign, the Forum announced several measures under the “Coalition Against Bill 7,” including a Black Friday Campaign where citizens will wear black ribbons and place black car stickers every Friday to symbolise mourning for constitutional integrity. 

It will also coordinate car honking from 15:00 to 17:00 hours every Friday as a public protest, petition the Constitutional Court challenging the legality of the ongoing reform process, and hold a peaceful march-past on November 28, 2025, from Freedom Statue to State House to demonstrate public opposition to the Bill.

Additionally, the Forum said it will write to President Hichilema, urging him to halt the process, and to all Members of Parliament, reminding them of their constitutional duty to reject any amendment that undermines democratic governance.

Zulu appealed to civil society, faith-based organisations, traditional leaders, and all well-meaning citizens to join the campaign against what he called “a constitutional hijack disguised as reform.”

“This country’s supreme law must reflect the will of the people, not the ambitions of those in power,” he said.

The Oasis Forum reaffirmed its commitment to defending constitutionalism, rule of law, and good governance, saying it would not relent until a truly inclusive and citizen-driven process is initiated.