Group welcomes establishment of constitutional reform committee, demands transparency, accountability,

The Consortium for Good Governance has welcomed President Hakainde Hichilema’s appointment of an independent committee to consult citizens and draft constitutional amendments.

In a statement issued on Friday in Lusaka, Deputy Chairperson, Solomon Ngoma said the President’s decision reflected respect for the Constitutional Court’s ruling and demonstrated his commitment to ensuring reforms would only proceed after meaningful consultation with citizens.

The group commended the Head of State for upholding the rule of law and promoting citizen participation in the process.

It further described the composition of the committee as encouraging, noting that it brought together individuals with diverse perspectives, including those who had supported, opposed, or remained neutral on past constitutional amendments.

“The Consortium was particularly pleased with the appointment of its Chairperson, Mr. Isaac Mwanza, to represent eleven Civil Society Organisations in the process,” it stated.

It highlighted Mwanza’s long-standing involvement in constitutional review processes since 2010, as well as his role in litigation aimed at defending the Constitution.

It stressed that the Constitution was a people’s document that must be shaped by broad citizen participation, not only by lawyers and technical experts.

Read More: Calls grow for transparency in constitution review as Njobvu, Kalaba, others speak on Hichilema’s committee

Ngoma urged all committee members to place national interest above partisan or personal considerations.

“The President’s commitment to engaging a wide range of stakeholders – including civil society organisations, traditional leaders, and ordinary citizens – is expected to strengthen the legitimacy and credibility of the process,” he said.

He added that if conducted transparently and in good faith, the reforms would reflect the true aspirations of the Zambian people.

According to Ngoma, the establishment of the committee marked an important step towards accountability and inclusiveness in constitutional reform.

“By providing an opportunity for broad-based consultations, the committee was expected to give citizens a chance to meaningfully contribute to shaping Zambia’s supreme law,” Ngoma said.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.