Govt says 11,860 submissions made as Committee on Constitutional Amendments winds up, 0.06% of population reached

President Hakainde Hichilema has welcomed the conclusion of public consultations on proposed constitutional amendments, noting a total of 11,860 submissions received by the Technical Committee on Constitutional Amendments (TCCA).

President Hichilema said the numbers showed a sign of growing citizen participation in the national reform process.

Official data, however, provides perspective on the scale of engagement.

According to the 2022 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats), Zambia’s population stands at 19,693,423.

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Based on this figure, the 11,860 submissions represent approximately 0.06 percent of the population, or roughly one submission for every 1,660 Zambians.

When measured against the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) figures of 7,073,513 registered voters as of February 2025, the submissions equate to 0.17 percent of eligible voters — or one submission per 596 registered voters.

In a message posted on his official Facebook page on Monday, Hichilema commended citizens for their participation, noting that submissions came from physical and online consultations, as well as from Zambians living abroad.

He described the engagement as a demonstration of patriotism and unity, and thanked the TCCA for completing its work within two months of its appointment on 2 October 2025.

The President also highlighted the committee’s focus on professionalism, efficiency, and cost-saving measures, saying the disciplined process reflected lessons learned from previous review efforts.

The Technical Report submitted to State House may mark the beginning of the next phase in the constitutional amendment process.

While the volume of submissions can be said to signal citizen interest, the official statistics indicate that formal participation remained limited relative to the overall population and voter base.

The consultation process, however, has faced criticism from several quarters. Church leaders, civil society organisations, and opposition parties have argued that the consultations were rushed and lacked transparency.

They also question the legal basis for certain proposed amendments, warning that the process could undermine Zambia’s constitutional framework.

Some groups threatened to boycott the exercise unless Bill 7 was withdrawn or replaced with legally sound alternatives, highlighting ongoing public skepticism about the amendment process.

Civil society organisations further raised concerns over accessibility, noting that many rural communities had limited opportunities to submit feedback due to logistical challenges and inadequate awareness campaigns.

Opposition parties echoed these criticisms, arguing that the consultation largely favoured government-aligned narratives and excluded dissenting voices.

As the government reviews the recommendations and prepares for the next stage, the figures and public concerns provide important context — showing both citizen engagement and the significant voices yet to be reached in shaping Zambia’s constitutional future.

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