President Urged to Block Bill 7

ADEG calls for caution, warning that assenting to the constitutional amendment could undermine democratic processes and public trust.

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia24 --- 16-12-2025) – Civil society organisation Advocates for Democratic Governance Foundation (ADEG) has strongly urged President Hakainde Hichilema to block the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025 by refraining from signing it into law, warning that doing so in its current form would threaten democratic legitimacy and erode public confidence in constitutional reform.

ADEG Executive Director Gideon Musonda told journalists in a statement that the passage of Bill 7 by Parliament, without broad-based national consensus, sets a dangerous precedent in the amendment of the country’s supreme law and undermines the integrity of Zambia’s constitutional order.

While acknowledging that constitutional reform is both lawful and necessary, ADEG said the manner, timing and scope under which Bill 7 was processed were fundamentally flawed, exclusionary and dismissive of the voices of ordinary citizens, particularly those in rural and marginalised communities.

“The Constitution is not a political convenience; it is a social contract that derives its authority from the people,” Musonda said.

He warned that presidential assent would entrench constitutional changes with far-reaching and potentially irreversible consequences for governance, democratic accountability and future reform processes.

According to ADEG, the rushed timelines, limited public consultations and exclusion of key stakeholders such as civil society, traditional leaders and faith-based organisations severely weakened the credibility of the amendment process and risk deepening public mistrust in democratic institutions.

The organisation urged President Hichilema to withhold assent and return the Bill to Parliament, insisting that constitutional amendments must not be driven by political expediency or electoral calculations.

ADEG further called for a complete reset of the reform process after the 2026 General Elections to allow for a genuinely inclusive, participatory and people-driven national dialogue free from political pressure.

“History will not remember the speed with which this Bill was passed, but whether leadership rose to defend the sovereignty of the people and the sanctity of the Constitution,” Musonda said.

Bill 7, which was approved by Parliament last week, now awaits presidential assent to become law.