Civic, Church and Student Groups Present Bill 7 Positions to President

Civic, Church and Student Groups Present Bill 7 Positions to President

A wide cross section of Zambia’s civic, religious, academic and youth leadership met President Hakainde Hichilema at State House during a lengthy courtesy call that brought together clergy, civil society networks, students from nine universities, legal reform advocates and community representatives from several provinces. The session drew a broad spectrum of viewpoints on the ongoing constitutional amendment process under Bill 7, with participants delivering detailed submissions anchored on grassroots experiences, legal concerns and national development priorities.

The gathering opened with a structured introduction that highlighted the diversity of those present. Clergy from the Copperbelt, Lusaka and Northwestern Province, civil society groups with national reach, traditional governance advocates, and churches including the Anglican Church, SDA, ICOS, RACZ and others were in attendance. Students and union representatives from nine universities and colleges formed a significant part of the delegation, having requested an opportunity to engage the President directly on constitutional reform, youth participation, academic freedoms and the future of governance systems that shape their generation.

The President addressed the attendees with a call for civility, national maturity and respect for dialogue as a trusted tool for resolving differences. He reflected on Zambia’s historical constitutional cycles including 1964, 1973, 1991, 1996 and 2016, noting that constitutional progression has always depended on calm consultation rather than confrontation. He cautioned that attempts to resolve disagreements through protests risked distressing unintended victims such as small business owners and vulnerable citizens. The President urged all participants to use dialogue to bridge blind corners in understanding and to avoid approaches rooted in personal victory rather than national clarity.

Formal submissions then began with the Civil Society Alliance on Legal Reforms led by Caroline Katotobwe. She delivered an extensive endorsement of the current constitutional review process, grounding her argument in the scale of citizen participation recorded across all ten provinces. She stated that the volume of submissions and the diversity of opinions demonstrated that citizens, especially marginalised groups, had embraced this opportunity to be heard. Katotobwe argued that withdrawing Bill 7 would disenfranchise rural communities, women, youth, persons with disabilities and many citizens who made submissions in good faith.

She also questioned the credibility of the Oasis Forum’s position, noting that its earlier presentation lacked signatures, constituency mandates and empirical data. She called for the amendment process to proceed to Parliament without further delay so that members of Parliament can debate the bill on behalf of those who elected them.

The Consortium of Civil Society Organisations presented next through Solomon Ngoma, who began by revisiting a previous meeting on 25 June and apologised for disruptions during that engagement. He emphasised that the current constitutional process aligns with Articles 64, 79, 88 and 92, which outline the lawful avenues for amendments. Ngoma highlighted the scale of national participation, stating that the technical committee had registered approximately 11,000 submissions, a number that surpasses previous review commissions. He noted that the committee conducted its work transparently and within a compressed timeframe, supported by national radio broadcasts that widened access for rural and peri urban citizens.

Ngoma acknowledged earlier concerns regarding Bill 7 but noted that the current process is more inclusive than its original iteration. He stressed that the draft from the technical committee should be presented to Parliament in full without filtration at cabinet level, arguing that Parliament carries constitutional responsibility to test the people’s views.

Cairns Nsama from Care for Nature Zambia delivered a solidarity message under the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Speaking on behalf of rural women, she highlighted structural inequalities in political representation and used Mansa District as an example where all parliamentary and ward seats are held by men. She called for proportional representation in the constitution to address the persistent under-representation of women at both national and local levels.

Nsama further called for a sovereign fund dedicated to women’s political participation. She argued that reliance on donor-funded advocacy has proven fragile and that a national, legally supported fund would allow women to enter political spaces without fear of intimidation or financial exclusion. She appealed for the reinstatement of institutional gender mechanisms that can function regardless of external funding cycles.

The church segment followed with a series of strong but varied submissions. Prophetess Jani of ICOS expressed full support for the amendment process and criticised what she described as a “minority of loud voices” attempting to stall legal procedures. She emphasised that inclusivity requires broad participation, not selective representation.

The Anglican Church, represented by Father Katete, stressed the importance of responsible civic engagement grounded in scripture. He referenced recent incidents in Chingola and warned against the manipulation of young people for political objectives. Katete stated that no constitutional reform should rely on actions that risk lives. He encouraged the President to remain open to dialogue even when faced with opposing views.

The Seventh day Adventist Church, through Midlands West Zambia Conference President Gabriel Mulambwa, emphasised the neutrality of the SDA pulpit and warned against using religious platforms to encourage demonstrations. He described the amendment process as orderly and lawful, noting that the church views national stability as a foundation for effective ministry. Mulambwa said the process provides a constructive platform for addressing longstanding governance questions without resorting to divisive methods.

The Copperbelt clergy then presented multiple submissions. Reverend Eddie Bwalya praised the 13 proposed amendments, focusing particularly on delimitation for over sized constituencies. He criticised attempts to politicise the pulpit and argued that the church should promote unity rather than agitation.

Reverend Jimmy Ngambi from the House of Clergy Zambia highlighted the importance of the President’s commitment to peace, law and order, which he said has enabled national progress since 2021. He criticised misinformation around Bill 7 and said that citizens his organisation consulted overwhelmingly support the reforms. Ngambi stated that many communities expect this process to proceed without delay, adding that withdrawing the bill at this stage would disadvantage those who participated in good faith.

Luanshya based Bishop Kabesha strongly criticised the Oasis Forum and argued that it does not represent the views of the majority. He said rural communities are eager for the amendments, especially those concerning delimitation and enhanced representation of women and persons with disabilities. Kabesha argued that opponents of the bill should specify the clauses they dispute rather than calling for total withdrawal.

Bishop Stanley Benwa of Northwestern Province closed the clergy segment. He said that communities in Northwestern, including areas like Mwinilunga and Kasempa, fully support constitutional reforms because of the scale of their constituencies. He urged Parliament to follow the majority view once the technical committee’s report is submitted. Benwa appealed to church mother bodies to avoid using the pulpit for political statements and referenced guidance from the Vatican against partisan preaching.

The session concluded with the Lusaka Ministers Consortium, represented by Bishop Inutu Nawa, who conveyed full support for the reform process. Nawa described the amendments as timely and necessary to address structural inequities that affect marginalised groups throughout the country. She stated that reforms cannot be delayed because citizens on the lower rungs of social and economic structures pay the highest price when governance systems remain outdated.

University students were acknowledged throughout the meeting as a critical constituency whose future will be shaped by the constitutional framework under review. Their presence underscored the importance of youth engagement in national governance and highlighted a generational desire to contribute to legal and political reforms that determine their civic environment. Their participation in the meeting reflected the growing recognition that young people are not only observers of national processes but active stakeholders whose academic, professional and civic futures depend on transparent national reforms.

The day’s engagements illustrated a country in vigorous dialogue about its constitutional future. While positions differed, the meeting showed a shared reliance on dialogue, structured consultation and lawful participation. President Hichilema closed the session by thanking the contributors and reaffirming State House as a place open to all citizens regardless of their stance on national issues.