Forum Walks Out Over Illegality
By Francis Maingaila
Lusaka, Zambia — 1 December 2025 — The national dialogue on constitutional reforms has collapsed amid growing tensions, after the Oasis Forum officially withdrew from the process, accusing the government of deliberately pursuing what it describes as an “illegal, unconstitutional, and dangerously rushed” path to amending the Constitution.
Beauty Katebe, Oasis Forum Chairperson, told journalists that the Forum pulled out after weeks of intense dialogue, including a direct meeting with President Hakainde Hichilema, which failed to resolve critical disagreements over the legality, inclusivity, and integrity of the reforms.
Katebe said the Forum’s decision followed unmistakable signs that the government was determined to proceed with Bill No. 7 of 2025, despite the Constitutional Court having declared the bill’s initiation a nullity.
She explained that the Forum formally communicated its withdrawal to President Hichilema on 29 November, and that a letter outlining its principled stance was delivered to the government’s smaller negotiating team on 30 November.
She said the Forum could not continue participating in a dialogue where the central legal issues had not been addressed.
According to Katebe, the government’s insistence on Bill 7 directly contradicts the Constitutional Court’s orders, undermining the rule of law and setting a dangerous precedent for Zambia’s democratic governance.
Katebe warned that advancing Bill 7 without correction effectively legitimises an unconstitutional process, and any report or draft amendments produced by the Technical Committee would themselves be illegal and lacking credibility.
Katebe highlighted that the Technical Committee overseeing the reforms operates without a legal framework to guarantee independence, transparency, or accountability to the public.
She argued that this absence of safeguards leaves the committee vulnerable to executive interference and strips citizens of their rightful role in shaping constitutional reforms.
“A constitution belongs to the people, not to the government,” she told journalists.
She criticised the government for imposing restrictive Terms of Reference that limit public contributions to the same clauses contained in Bill 7, effectively forcing citizens to participate in discussions about a process already invalidated by the courts.
She said this approach revives an election-centred agenda that is illegitimate, narrow in scope, and does not allow for a comprehensive, holistic review of the Constitution.
Katebe said the government’s refusal to formally withdraw Bill 7 from Parliament, despite the Court nullifying its initiation, demonstrates bad faith.
She said keeping the bill before the National Assembly while presenting the process as “dialogue” is a deliberate attempt to entrench unconstitutional amendments and bypass lawful procedures, further eroding public trust in governance.
She condemned the decision to rush the reforms by tying the process to the 2026 General Elections, calling it reckless and irresponsible.
Katebe warned that attempting to amend the Constitution in less than 30 days undermines inclusivity, prevents meaningful consultation, and distracts from pressing national issues, including the rising cost of living, water shortages, youth unemployment, and social cohesion.
Katebe said that despite raising these issues repeatedly during dialogue sessions and in direct engagements with the President, the government showed no willingness to reconsider its approach.
She said authorities refused to address the legal concerns or provide alternative, lawful solutions, leaving the Forum with no option but to withdraw to avoid lending legitimacy to a flawed process.
She reaffirmed that the Forum will only return to the negotiating table if two non-negotiable conditions are met: the formal withdrawal of Bill 7 from Parliament and the commencement of a fresh constitutional reform process under a clear legal framework that guarantees independence, transparency, and citizen ownership.
She emphasised that only such an approach can protect Zambia from a looming constitutional crisis and safeguard the nation’s democratic foundations.
Katebe warned that government’s continued disregard for the Court ruling and legal procedures places the country on a dangerous trajectory.
She urged Zambians to defend the Constitution, insisting that any attempt to push amendments through an illegal and exclusionary process threatens national stability, undermines the rule of law, and could provoke unrest.
She said the Oasis Forum will pursue all available legal avenues, including possible engagement with the international community, to ensure that Bill 7 is withdrawn.
She called on authorities to immediately halt the current process and restart constitutional reforms in a legitimate, transparent, and genuinely citizen-driven manner, where amendments are framed by the people rather than imposed by government.
Katebe concluded by urging the public to actively join the Oasis Forum’s upcoming Campaign Against Bill 7.
She said the defence of Zambia’s democracy, constitutional integrity, and rule of law requires collective citizen action, warning that failing to challenge the current process risks leaving the nation vulnerable to illegitimate constitutional changes.
©️ 2025 Francis Maingaila. All rights reserved.
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