Boycotts, Protests Mount Over Contentious Bill 7 Process
Historian Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa has accused President Hakainde Hichilema of ignoring national sentiment by forcing constitutional changes ahead of the 2026 general elections despite mounting opposition from civil society, traditional leaders and political parties.
Dr Sishuwa said the Head of State had “misread the national mood” by reviving clauses of Bill 7 through a technical committee dominated by loyalists. He argued that the President’s insistence on pushing the review under executive control defied a 2019 Constitutional Court ruling which declared any such amendment illegal unless people-driven.
The historian maintained that Zambia’s democratic credibility was at risk, warning that consultations compressed into a tight political calendar had alienated citizens who should have been the architects of their own governance charter. He said ignoring boycotts by major stakeholders and dismissing criticism as political hostility only deepened public distrust.
His statement was echoed by the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), which praised chiefs and NGOs that refused to participate in the current process. FDD spokesperson Anthony Chibuye told reporters the committee’s composition “reeks of political convenience,” accusing the UPND of manipulating institutions to entrench itself. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) joined the condemnation. DPP president Antonio Mwanza said the review was “a cover for political survival,” while APC leader Nason Msoni called it “a theatre of deception.”
In response, Justice Minister Princess Kasune said government had been overwhelmed by submissions from citizens and stakeholders and that the volume of responses proved the process was inclusive. She insisted that technical experts were merely facilitating what the people wanted recorded. The Minister dismissed boycott narratives as partisan theatre, saying the committee would continue receiving proposals until the end of November.
Meanwhile, civic organisations and the Law Association of Zambia renewed calls for the process to slow down, arguing that legitimacy required consensus, not speed. The Catholic Church and several NGOs urged suspension until after 2026 so that citizens could engage free from electoral tension.
Dr Sishuwa warned that continued defiance could lead to widespread rejection similar to Bill 10 in 2020. He appealed to President Hichilema to “listen to the heartbeat of the nation” and rebuild trust by convening an independent, post-election review.
As debate widened, State House maintained that reforms sought to clean inconsistencies and modernise governance. Opposition parties said the UPND was repeating the mistakes it once condemned. Analysts note that how the administration handles the review may determine public confidence heading into 2026.
We are the people?
Wake up Zambia before it is too late
Your headline is misleading and sensational.
The people who are boycotting and protesting are the usual haters and PF surrogates. They are in the minority.
The people of Zambia who are in the majority want these changes. If they don’t, they will let everyone know in the elections next year, it’s that simple.
The moment you mention the name Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa and the law association of Zambia, one knows it’s people who are disingenuous and with an axe to grind.
The constitution of Zambia needs to be updated to reflect the modern times we are living in.
My take therefore, is let them hate, protest and boycott and good riddance to them.
The committee is NOT illegal.
If these malcontents are of the opinion that it is illegal, why don’t the take out a court injunction.
Sometimes it is good to listen to the people. But as usual, someone will be surprised and even accuse others that they were not telling him the truth on what is on the ground. The fact is you cannot rush such an important exercise without people concluding you have a hidden agenda. What will be lost if this process is delayed until after elections? There is a lot happening now that we are heading towards the elections and the best is to listen and engage with the right people.
Looking at the cadres in embassies abroad supporting wrong things on this blog is bad. You are coming back next year.
Most dont understand as nothing has been properly explained
Also supporters are out in full force willingly or forcefully who knows
Iwe, previous Technical Commissions on Constitution amendments were given timeless periods to widely consult but they managed to come up with a new constitution with hundreds of serious lacunas which has brought us here.So don’t look at time but interrogate the methods
In a democracy there may not be 100% agreement. Divergent views will always be there due to varying political interests.
The arguments being made against the ongoing technical committee sittings don’t seem to be grounded in sincerity. Some are saying the time is too little others are saying it should be done after the elections, others are saying it’s illegal but can’t go to court and cannot show with boldness where the illegality is.
What scares me about this constitution is the likely withdrawal of a presidential candidate that would result in postponement of the elections among other unprogressive clauses.