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The Oasis Forum has expressed concern over Zambia’s ongoing constitution-making process, citing the lack of a supporting legal framework and questioning the independence of the recently appointed Technical Committee.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka on Friday, Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) President, Lungisani Zulu, who spoke on behalf of the Forum, said the cited constitutional provisions—Articles 92(1), 92(2)(f), and 92(2)(j)—relate primarily to executive functions and do not grant sufficient autonomy for a credible, citizen-driven process.
Zulu warned that this structure risked executive influence over a process that should be independent and inclusive.
He referenced the Constitutional Court’s decision in Munir Zulu and Celestine Mukandila vs Attorney General (2025/CC2/009), which declared the initiation of Bill No. 7 of 2025 unconstitutional and therefore null and void.
“Despite this ruling, Bill 7 remains before the National Assembly — a situation that undermines public trust,” Zulu said.
He said “We therefore call upon Government to formally withdraw Bill No. 7 to demonstrate good faith. Any attempt to base consultations or draft amendments on the discredited Bill would amount to resurrecting an illegitimate process and would erode public confidence.”
Zulu further noted that the Terms of Reference for the Technical Committee have not been made public, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
He urged the government to enact a legal framework to guide and protect the Committee’s work, ensuring its independence and credibility.
“While we acknowledge that members of the Technical Committee come from diverse backgrounds, we are concerned that they were appointed in their individual capacities rather than as representatives of stakeholder institutions,” he said, adding that there was no consultation with political parties, LAZ, NGOCC, or organizations representing persons with disabilities.
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Zulu said the absence of institutional representation makes it unclear whose interests the Committee members serve.
“We therefore urge His Excellency the President to rectify this anomaly by inviting nominations from key stakeholder institutions to ensure inclusivity and legitimacy,” he added.
Zulu emphasized that constitutional reform should aim to strengthen democratic institutions and expand the Bill of Rights, rather than serving as a quick political fix ahead of the 2026 General Elections.
“The timeline and roadmap of the Technical Committee’s work should not be tied to the 2026 elections, as doing so would undermine inclusivity and national consensus,” Zulu stated.
The Oasis Forum comprises the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC), and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB).
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