MPs seek extension to respond in Bill 7 contempt case after failing to meet deadline

The legal fallout from the Constitutional Court’s decision on Bill 7 continues, with Members of Parliament cited for contempt now seeking permission to file their responses out of time.

The contempt proceedings were initiated by petitioners Munir Zulu and Celestine Mukandila, who argued that parliamentary officials and MPs ignored the court’s June 27 ruling that declared the legislative process for Bill 7 unconstitutional due to inadequate public consultation.

Those cited include Justice Minister Princess Kasune, Speaker Nelly Mutti, Deputy Speakers Malungo Chisangano and Moses Moyo, senior officials from the Clerk’s office, and MPs listed as the 8th to 172nd alleged contemnors.

In an affidavit supporting the application, Principal State Advocate, Ndanji Kelly Chongo, said the court had directed all alleged contemnors to file opposing affidavits by January 30, 2026. While some complied, the two deputy speakers, senior officials from the Clerk’s office, and the listed MPs did not meet the deadline.

Chongo explained that the affected MPs were attending to constituency duties and could not travel in time to sign the documents.
“The delay was neither intentional nor calculated to undermine the authority of the court,” he stated, noting that the affidavits had since been signed and were ready for filing.

The contempt allegations originated from Mr Mukandila’s claim that a widely circulated video showed Deputy Speaker Chisangano suggesting that Bill 7 would be reintroduced in Parliament and referred to a committee.

Mukandila argued that since the court declared the legislative process unconstitutional, the Bill was “null and void from the beginning,” and any attempt to revive it amounted to contempt.

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