‘Bill 7 is dead, buried,’ legal luminary, Sangwa, says after constitutional court ruling

Prominent constitutional lawyer, John Sangwa, has declared that Bill 7 was dead and buried following a ruling by the Constitutional Court that found it unconstitutional.

Speaking on Millennium Television’s talk show on Tuesday night, Sangwa also accused President Hakainde Hichilema of betraying the trust of the Zambian people who voted for him.

The full bench of the Constitutional Court ruled that Bill 7—which was introduced in Parliament for first reading before being withdrawn by Justice Minister Princess Kasune on the President’s instruction—was unconstitutional for failing to meet the requirement of public consultation.

“It is an act of lawlessness to refer to Bill 7 as a deferred bill because, as far as the Constitution is concerned, it is dead and buried. We should just concentrate on other things,” Sangwa said.

He expressed concern over what he described as a persistent obsession among politicians to interfere with the Constitution.

“Politicians need to stop this tendency of always wanting to tamper with the Constitution, instead of focusing on improving the economy,” he said.

Sangwa further stated that President Hichilema had lost his support due to what he termed lawless conduct.

“President Hichilema and the Member of Parliament I voted for no longer need my vote. They have betrayed people’s trust by engaging in actions the Constitutional Court has ruled as lawless,” Sangwa said.

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