Govt, Speaker Mutti warned against flawed constitution amendment process

The Action Institute for Policy Analysis Centre (AIPAC) has urged Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti, and the government to prioritize transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in the constitution amendment process to restore public trust.

Zambia Monitor recently quoted Mutti as saying Parliament was ready to resume debate on the Constitution review process and was only waiting for the right signal to proceed. She also claimed there was a general plea from traditional leaders for government to go ahead with the process to allow for the delimitation of constituencies that were too vast for a single Member of Parliament.

AIPAC Executive Director, Solomon Ngoma, in a statement issued in Lusaka on Saturday, vowed that the organisation would not support a flawed process.

Ngoma stated that any amendment to Zambia’s Constitution, the supreme law of the land, must be done with the consent of the Zambian people through broad stakeholder engagement.

“The Speaker needs to be reminded that attempting to amend the Constitution without proper consultation and involvement of the citizens is an illegal exercise and should be abandoned,” he said.

Ngoma assured of AIPAC’s commitment to defending the democratic process, stressing that the organisation would not stand idly while it was being compromised.

He argued that Zambians had already lost confidence in Members of Parliament due to the manner in which the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act was enacted without adequately considering stakeholder submissions.

Ngoma said AIPAC would continue to advocate for a constitutional amendment process that was people-driven, inclusive, and transparent.

“We will not support any attempts to undermine the democratic process or disregard the rights of Zambian citizens who on August 12, 2021, gave the UPND the mandate to run the affairs of this country. It is imperative that they are consulted when it comes to amending the Constitution,” he said.

Ngoma also expressed concern over the manner in which the Minister of Justice was introducing Bills in Parliament without involving stakeholders, particularly those in sectors directly affected. He warned that this suggested an attempt by the Executive to consolidate regulatory authority, which was not suitable for a democratic society like Zambia.

“We appeal to the UPND administration to slow down the rapid introduction of regulatory Bills, as this could lead to significant discontent among Zambians,” Ngoma said.

He added that the recent passage of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, despite criticism from local and international stakeholders, had further eroded public confidence in Parliamentary committees.

Ngoma cautioned that if this trend continues, it may have serious political consequences, including a potential backlash in the 2026 elections.

“Zambians are already annoyed by the manner in which the Cyber Security Act was passed. It is imperative that the government listens to the concerns of its citizens and adopts a more inclusive approach to law-making,” he said.

Ngoma reiterated the call for government to release the roadmap on constitutional reforms, as directed by President Hakainde Hichilema to the Secretary to the Cabinet during a Civil Society Organisations meeting at State House.

“We want to put it on record that the Constitution of Zambia is not a document for the Chiefs or Members of Parliament; it is a document for the 20 million citizens, and they should be consulted through stakeholder engagement,” he stated.

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