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The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has strongly opposed a government proposal to abolish term limits for mayors and council chairpersons, warning that such a move could undermine democratic safeguards and set a dangerous constitutional precedent.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday, JCTR Faith and Justice Programme Officer, John Sauti, argued that while elected officials such as Members of Parliament (MPs) and councillors currently do not face term limits, extending this to mayors and council chairpersons would leave the presidency as the only position with such restrictions.
“If this amendment to Article 154(2b) passes, the President would be the only elected official with a term limit,” Sauti stated.
“This sets a dangerous precedent, as future constitutional amendments could plausibly use the same logic to justify removing presidential term limits.”
He warned that removing term limits for local government leaders could serve as a litmus test for dismantling presidential term limits, thus weakening Zambia’s democratic foundations.
Sauti added that in recent years, Zambia had witnessed widespread corruption and inefficiencies involving both current and former elected officials.
He said that rather than removing term limits, the government should propose introducing them across the board—for the President, MPs, councillors, mayors, and council chairpersons alike.
“Such a move would reinforce the President’s oft-repeated claim that ‘there are no sacred cows in the fight against corruption’ and give real weight to the Government’s anti-corruption agenda,” he stated.
Sauti also raised concerns about broader constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening the executive’s authority, arguing that these could weaken the National Assembly’s oversight function.
He cautioned that proposed changes—including reintegrating MPs into local councils, increasing the number of nominated MPs, and redrawing constituency boundaries—would lead to the politicisation of decentralised governance and inflate the size of Parliament.
“These outcomes would severely compromise the National Assembly’s ability to scrutinise executive performance,” Sauti said.
He further argued that returning MPs to local councils would effectively place them under the authority of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, transforming them into implementers of government policy.
“This shift would make MPs accountable to the minister rather than to the electorate, undermining the principle of separation of powers and increasing the risk of corruption and inefficiency in public service delivery,” he said.
The JCTR’s position may add to the growing public debate around government’s proposed constitutional amendments, which many critics see as centralising too much power in the executive.
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