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More support may have come the way of the Technical Committee on constitutional review as an Ndola lawyer, Eric Sakala, has asked the Constitutional Court to join the petition challenging Bill 7, arguing that the case directly threatened citizens’ rights by seeking to invalidate a constitutional reform process meant to facilitate public participation.
Sakala’s intended joinder places him at the centre of the legal battle launched by the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), the Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, the Council of Churches in Zambia, and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops, together with the LCK Freedom Foundation under the Oasis Forum.
The petition seeks to nullify the establishment, mandate, and outputs of the 25-member Technical Committee appointed by President Hakainde Hichilema on 2 October 2025.
In his affidavit, Sakala argued that the petition was not a mere technical challenge against state officers but a matter with “direct and immediate consequences for the Zambian populace,” because it sought to invalidate a process designed in response to the Constitutional Court’s own pronouncements on constitutional reform.
“The petition aims to annul submissions made by well-meaning citizens, including over 10,000 who participated in the process,” he stated.
He positioned himself as an active civic actor, describing himself as a resident of Mitengo, a registered voter, an advocate of the High Court, and executive director of the Honour for Justice Foundation.
Sakala contended that the Technical Committee’s work had been consultative in nature and that government had taken steps to ensure compliance with constitutional procedures.
Read More: Constitutional Court rejects bid by Oasis Forum to halt constitution amendment process
He stated that the appointment of the Committee, although challenged by the petitioners as lacking statutory footing or a gazetted instrument, remained legally valid because its role was advisory and fully within the President’s powers under Articles 92(2)(f) and 92(2)(j) of the Constitution.
“By challenging the very mechanism created to facilitate public participation, the petition undermines every citizen’s right to a legitimate and participatory amendment process,” Sakala argued.
He added that joining the matter would not prejudice any party but would protect citizens from a “potential miscarriage of justice.”
He further said the public interest nature of the dispute entitled him to be heard, as the outcome would directly affect the legal and political framework within which he operated as a citizen and voter.
His application followed a development in which Hara & Company withdrew from representing him on November 25.
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