Bill 10 vs Bill 7

Government Clarifies Key Differences Between the Two Constitutional Bills and Explains Why the Two Bills Are Not the Same

By GOAT Media

Lusaka, Zambia24 – (9 December 2025) – The government has moved to clarify the differences between Bill 10 and Bill 7, saying the two constitutional amendment bills are not the same and must not be compared. Officials said Bill 7 is inclusive, widely consulted and focused on non-controversial issues, unlike the rejected Bill 10.

Chief Government Spokesperson and Minister of Information and Media, Cornelius Mweetwa, told journalists that Bill 7 reflects the views of citizens gathered through various national consultations.

He said the bill was shaped through the 2019 Town Hall meetings, consultations with 34 civil society organisations in September 2025, and later engagements with LAZ, church groups, students and other stakeholders in November 2025.

Mweetwa clarified that Parliament’s select committee is now receiving new submissions from citizens and organisations to ensure broad participation.

He said constitutional amendments, especially those affecting entrenched clauses such as the Bill of Rights, must follow inclusive procedures and may even require a referendum.

Mweetwa added that this approach gives amendments both legal and moral authority.

He said Bill 7 addresses issues that have already been discussed before, including the removal of MPs returning to sit in councils, changes to Article 62 on fresh nominations and amendments to Article 103 on election petitions.

Mweetwa stressed that these issues are very different from those contained in Bill 10, which was rejected for being controversial.

He said Bill 10 proposed altering how the House of Chiefs chairperson is selected, removing Parliament’s power to ratify government loans and giving the President power to create provinces without parliamentary approval.

Other elements in Bill 10 included the abolition of the Industrial Relations Court, limiting the Auditor General’s tenure and reintroducing deputy ministers.

Mweetwa said Bill 10 also attempted to change presidential election procedures by removing the second ballot requirement and allowing coalitions to determine the President, which he said would have weakened voter power.

He added that Bill 10 would have allowed tribunals to disqualify presidential candidates, kept a President in office even when incapacitated, and changed election petition rules in ways that could disqualify a President-elect.

Mweetwa said none of these controversial proposals appear in Bill 7.

He described Bill 7 as a non-controversial amendment focused on widely accepted issues.

He also said Bill 7 promotes better representation of women, youth and differently-abled persons. Currently, only 17 of the 156 elected MPs are women.

Mweetwa noted that reforms must reflect Zambia’s population and meet SADC gender representation commitments.

He also announced decisions from the 24th Cabinet meeting held on 8 December 2025, including the approval of a revised Cash for Work programme.

The programme will provide temporary jobs in all 116 districts, support vulnerable communities, improve local economies and contribute to poverty reduction.

Citizens will earn wages while helping to improve public infrastructure, support community projects and strengthen environmental protection.

Mweetwa also acknowledged ongoing power shortages caused by droughts and assured citizens that government is working to stabilise electricity supply.

He said the Minister of Justice will present a detailed government position on Bill 7 by Friday.

Mweetwa urged the public to rely on facts and understand that Bill 7 and Bill 10 are not the same, saying misinformation must be avoided.

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