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British High Commissioner to Zambia, Rebecca Terzeon, has emphasized the need for adequate consultation and consensus in the constitutional reform process initiated by the Zambian government.
Terzeon urged the government to ensure the Constitution reflects the views and aspirations of the Zambian people by allocating sufficient time for wide-ranging consultations.
Speaking to Zambia Monitor in an interview in Lusaka, she stressed that meaningful engagement was crucial to avoid repeating the reform process with every change of government.
She also noted that Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) had consistently called for thorough consultations, highlighting the need for government to take these voices seriously in order to foster legitimacy and public ownership of the reforms.
“Given the recent extended period of mourning, I hope that the government will prioritize meaningful consultations before moving forward with the Bill. During this period, there has not been much engagement,” Terzeon said.
She reiterated that any constitutional reform process must be rooted in consensus and widespread public participation to ensure that the resulting document is truly representative of the Zambian people’s will.
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Meanwhile, on Monday, June 24, 2025, the Oasis Forum launched a nationwide campaign under the banner Coalition Against Constitution Bill No. 7.
The campaign aims to raise public awareness and mobilize opposition to what the Forum describes as a narrow, non-inclusive, and politically motivated reform process being driven by the UPND government.
The initiative is set to include civic education, public engagement, and peaceful demonstrations, with the goal of pressuring the government to immediately withdraw the proposed Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 of 2025.
“The Forum has noted with concern the government’s determination to proceed with constitutional reforms despite the process lacking citizen participation and transparency—both in terms of content and procedure,” the Forum stated.
The Oasis Forum further argued that any legitimate constitutional amendment must be people-driven and aligned with Article 79 of the Republican Constitution, which mandates a participatory and consultative process.
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