By 
Rights group, DEGHA, has called on Members of Parliament (MPs) to actively engage their constituents on the proposed constitutional amendments under Bill No. 7, particularly the non-contentious clauses, to raise public awareness and foster inclusive national dialogue.
On March 26, 2025, Justice Minister Princess Kasune presented a constitutional amendment roadmap to Parliament, which included proposals to amend several key articles.
These included:
Articles 58 and 68 – for constituency delimitation to enable equitable distribution of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) based on population and geographic size;
Article 52(6) – to allow elections to proceed even if a candidate resigns, avoiding fresh nominations;
Articles 47(2) and 68 – to guarantee representation for women, youth, and persons with disabilities;
Article 153(2) – to reintegrate MPs into local councils to promote development synergies.
In an interview with Zambia Monitor on Saturday, DEGHA National Coordinator, Gerald Mutelo, expressed concern over the lack of community engagement by MPs on these critical amendments.
“We are disappointed that MPs are not holding town hall meetings to explain to citizens the contents of the proposed constitutional amendments in Bill No. 7, which has already been gazetted and is open for public comment,” Mutelo said.
Read more:more-knocks-against-zambian-govts-approach-to-constitutional-amendment-of-bill-no-7
He emphasized the need for more awareness and inclusivity in the constitutional reform process, adding that lawmakers should take the lead in public sensitization efforts.
“MPs must work closely with councillors to hold sensitization meetings in various wards. This is the only way we can ensure the general public understands and contributes to national matters,” he added.
Mutelo further criticized some MPs for only engaging constituents during election periods.
“As an organisation, we have observed that many MPs neglect their constituencies and only resurface when it is time to seek a new mandate. This undermines effective representation and weakens trust,” he said.
Mutelo stressed that citizen representation and awareness were key to building consensus on governance and development matters.
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.
Comments