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Citizens First (CF) Party leader Harry Kalaba has accused President Hakainde Hichilema of using a State House press briefing to inflame public emotions and deepen political divisions, arguing that the President should instead apologise and withdraw the contentious Constitutional Amendment Bill 7 “before it’s too late.”
Kalaba said the “emotional outbursts” witnessed during the briefing — where President Hichilema complained of being hated by those opposed to his leadership — were “unbecoming of the office” and suggested a worrying shift away from calm, unifying leadership.
“What was revealed at that briefing was deeply concerning. We witnessed a Head of State speaking as though he owns the country and believes every dissenting voice is driven by hatred,” Kalaba said.
The opposition party leader argued that Zambia was in urgent need of sober leadership and constructive national dialogue, not rhetoric that frames criticism as personal hostility.
Kalaba said the President’s posture showed a departure from servant leadership principles, noting that public office was not about seeking admiration or demanding praise, but about service, humility, and delivering development.
“Zambians want unity. They want stability. They want food on their tables. What they do not want is the concentration of power in one individual through a constitution-making process that excludes them,” he emphasized.
He further argued that by repeatedly suggesting that criticism of Bill 7 was rooted in tribal hatred, the President was effectively confirming public fears that the proposed amendments were not people-driven, but intended to consolidate personal authority.
Kalaba accused the President of “selectively manipulating history,” saying his comparisons to past leaders are inaccurate.
“In December 1990, President Kenneth Kaunda conceded to constitutional change because it was demanded by the people, led by the Church,” he said.
He added that the constitutional review process leading to the 2016 Constitution was initiated under President Levy Mwanawasa and continued through several administrations — a people-centred, consensus-oriented approach.
By contrast, he argued, the current process is “President-centred,” with dissent dismissed as tribalism.
“Is this leadership? Is this presidential? We also wish to remind him that repeatedly invoking the names of deceased individuals for political effect is insensitive and unnecessary,” Kalaba said.
Meanwhile, Democratic Union (DU) leader, Ackim Njobvu, also rejected President Hichilema’s assertion that Zambians hated him, stating that public criticism stemmed from the President’s alleged failure to fulfil key promises made in 2021.
“When people criticize him, it doesn’t mean they hate him. Zambians feel cheated, and rightly so because he has failed to deliver his promises such as ending load shedding and reducing the cost of living,” he said.
Njobvu said the Head of State should stop lamenting and focus on addressing pressing national challenges, including the energy crisis and rising commodity prices.
He also condemned the President’s remarks about the church, which he said were “very unfortunate.”
The DU president further denounced reported death threats against Oasis Forum Chairperson Beauty Katebe, who has been vocal in opposing the constitutional amendments.
He called the threats “hypocritical,” noting that they come at a time when the President is urging dialogue over confrontation.
Randle, the United for Better Zambia (UBZ) Party President, Apostle Hector Soondo, has also urged President Hakainde Hichilema to immediately withdraw the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill 7, warning that failure to do so risks triggering widespread public protests and exposing the Head of State to what he called “avoidable embarrassment.”
Soondo’s intervention adds to a growing wave of dissent from civil society and faith-based organisations, whose involvement he says signals a major shift in national mood.
He argued that when churches — long regarded as pillars of calm, unity and dialogue — begin mobilising for demonstrations, it is a clear indication that public patience is wearing thin.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Soondo said President Hichilema “would lose nothing” by withdrawing Bill 7 and could instead earn goodwill by showing sensitivity to public concerns.
“Insisting on proceeding could spark demonstrations capable of escalating into continuous protests across the country. Zambia’s own political history can show through evidence that unresolved public grievances often lead to nationwide mobilisation,” he said.
He drew parallels to past moments of national unrest, citing the 2017 protests over electricity tariffs, the 2019 demonstrations at the University of Zambia (UNZA) over student allowances, and the 2020 backlash against Bill 10, which collapsed after sustained resistance from civil society, church bodies, and opposition parties.
“These situations show that when Zambians feel strongly about an issue, they unite across political and religious lines. If a large protest against Bill 7 begins, it may not end there. There are many other national issues people are quietly angry about, and a single spark can ignite everything,” he said.
He urged the President not to “invite trouble on himself” by underestimating public sentiment or disregarding the cautionary position of church leaders, who have historically played crucial roles in diffusing national crises.
Citing examples such as the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (ZCCB) influence during the tense 2016 election period and the Council of Churches in Zambia’s (CCZ) advocacy for national dialogue in volatile moments, Soondo emphasised that the church’s voice “should never be taken lightly.”
“Zambia’s democracy is strongest when leaders choose consensus over confrontation,” he said, urging the government to heed the growing public and ecclesiastical concerns before the situation escalates.
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