Fight Against Misinformation
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 – (December 1, 2025) – The United Party for National Development (UPND) has moved to clarify key provisions of the Constitutional Amendment Bill (Bill 7) amid widespread public concern and misinformation regarding its impact on governance, elections, and citizen representation.
UPND Media Director Mark Simuuwe warned at a media briefing that some individuals and organisations were deliberately misrepresenting the Bill’s contents, turning a legal and governance process into a politically charged debate.
“Bill 7 does not extend presidential terms, it does not alter the 50%+1 threshold for elections, and it does not undermine democracy,” Simuuwe stated.
“The amendments are aimed at correcting legal defects, clarifying governance processes, ensuring timely delimitation of constituencies, and improving representation for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.”
Simuuwe dismissed claims that the Bill sought to insert “Christian morality and ethics” into the Constitution, stressing that no single church or denomination can define national Christian morality.
He noted that proposals previously rejected—such as the introduction of deputy ministers, restructuring Cabinet powers, removing commissions like the Teaching Service Commission and Local Government Service Commission, and granting the President unchecked authority to create districts and provinces—have been deliberately distorted by some political actors to generate fear.
On the matter of by-elections, Simuuwe clarified confusion stemming from the Constitutional Court ruling in the Isaac Mwanza case, which did not specify how many times a candidate can withdraw.
He warned that repeated withdrawals without legal guidance could destabilise electoral processes, potentially compromising peace and requiring presidential intervention.
Simuuwe explained that the Constitution mandates constituency delimitation at least once every ten years.
He noted that this process began in 2019, before the UPND assumed office, and certain clauses must be amended to ensure legal compliance and avoid disputes during elections.
Regarding representation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities, Simuuwe emphasised that rigid quotas could undermine democratic choice.
He advocated a balanced approach using party lists to guarantee affirmative action while preserving open elections, allowing citizens to elect leaders directly.
Representation of youth and persons with disabilities, he added, should be proportional to their population percentages.
Simuuwe addressed concerns over public service tenure, pointing out that the Constitution currently requires a Permanent Secretary to have served ten years.
He argued that this outdated provision restricts access to senior administrative positions and does not reflect modern appointment practices.
Reducing the requirement, he said, ensures that qualified candidates can serve at the highest levels of government.
On citizen engagement, Simuuwe confirmed that the President had deferred Bill 7 to allow for further scrutiny.
Six technical experts have been nominated to review the Bill clause by clause. He emphasised that this process is part of democratic governance, not a withdrawal of the Bill.
Simuuwe urged citizens to rely on verified facts rather than rumours, stressing that deliberate misinformation could create unnecessary confusion and undermine national development.
“Bill 7 is about correcting legal defects, improving governance, and protecting checks and balances. Anyone claiming otherwise is misleading the public,” he said.
He concluded by appealing to political actors and the media to avoid turning constitutional reforms into partisan debates.
The focus, Simuuwe said, must remain on strengthening democratic institutions, improving electoral processes, and ensuring inclusive governance.
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