Presidential aspirant Makebi Zulu has described the passage of Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 as a breach of public trust and pledged to pursue a new, inclusive constitution-making process if elected in 2026.
Zulu was addressing journalists during a media briefing, where senior party officials and former government ministers were present. The briefing followed days of national debate and criticism surrounding the approval of Bill 7 in Parliament.
Zulu said the events surrounding the bill had shaken confidence in elected representatives and raised serious concerns about governance priorities. He stated that the parliamentary outcome did not reflect the conscience of the people or the founding principles of his political formation.
he noted that the vote on Bill 7 reflected individual moral failure rather than collective party values, adding that political ambition had overridden national responsibility. He said the party’s principles of justice, unity and service remained intact despite the outcome.
He declared his intention to be part of a leadership group that would reclaim public trust and restore constitutional order. Zulu said any future constitution review must be transparent, inclusive and driven by citizens rather than political offices. He said the constitution should emerge from communities across the country and reflect shared national values, including democracy, unity and patriotism.
Zulu said his administration would defend the independence of key state institutions, including the judiciary, Parliament, the Electoral Commission of Zambia and the civil service. He said public institutions should not be used for political advantage and that professionalism must be restored in public service.
He also said his government would repeal laws he described as repressive, including the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, which he said had been used against citizens instead of protecting them. Zulu said freedoms of expression and assembly were inherent rights and not privileges granted by government.
On governance priorities, Zulu said economic management should focus on citizens rather than political interests. He said Zambia’s natural resources, energy and agriculture must benefit local communities first. He said industrialisation would be central to job creation, particularly for young people.
Zulu said his administration would seek to restore Zambia’s standing internationally through diplomacy based on mutual respect and cooperation. He said foreign partnerships must deliver tangible benefits to citizens rather than a small elite.
He said agriculture, mining, tourism and technology would form the foundation of economic recovery, alongside efforts to reduce the cost of living and restore food security.
During a question-and-answer session, Zulu was asked whether members of Parliament who supported Bill 7 should face disciplinary action. He said political parties operate under established rules, including voting positions on major national matters. He said MPs who acted against agreed party positions had breached trust.
Zulu said party discipline was necessary to restore credibility and said he would support any party decision to separate from members who acted against its principles. He said restoring public confidence was more important than retaining parliamentary seats.
Addressing the substance of Bill 7, Zulu said one of its effects was extending the tenure of Members of Parliament until the day before elections, rather than dissolving Parliament three months prior. He said this benefitted MPs personally while failing to address pressing national challenges.
He said the bill introduced constituency delimitation without clarity on the number of new constituencies or associated costs. Zulu questioned how additional MPs, vehicles, allowances and offices would be funded at a time when farmers had not been paid and shortages of medicines, fuel and agricultural inputs persisted.
Zulu said budget priorities were misaligned, with resources directed toward political expansion instead of development. He said constitutional amendments should not take precedence over food security, health services and economic stability.
He said the bill concentrated power in the presidency and weakened democratic accountability. Zulu said replacing elected MPs through party mechanisms undermined democratic choice.
Responding to concerns about whether elections would still be held in 2026, Zulu said the electoral timetable remained unchanged. He said Zambians would vote on August 13, 2026, and that the constitution review must return authority to the people.
Zulu also addressed questions about multiple presidential contenders within the Patriotic Front. He said competition should not be mistaken for division and described internal contests as a contest of ideas. He said the process would culminate in unity around a single candidate.
On leadership demographics, Zulu said younger voters formed the largest share of the electorate and were drawn to leaders who understood their aspirations. He said youth engagement must be balanced with experience and guidance from older generations.
The briefing ended with closing remarks from party officials, who described Zulu as a servant-leader committed to accountability, unity and constitutional governance.
Public trust demands that funds for constitutional reform serve the people, not political ends. When Parliament diverts resources away from solving real problems, it breaches our founding principle of governance by and for the people. A transparent, people-driven process funded openly and overseen by communities must guide any constitutional change.
Desert Island arguments, majoritorial legislative processes like on B7 are done and dusted, remember the schtonk between Elon and DJT because of his “BBB”? The rest is living-history…
Just bring that body back.
How can one remain sober with such a cultural and mental challenge.
As well, taking the constitution back to the people, are we going to remove women from parliament
Zulu, you first. Bring back ECL’s body to the people of Zambia, that if he’s dead and not in Spain.
If wishes were horses?
Zambians want a dignified burial for
ECL.
Makebi, in light of the lamentable failure by the party in government now where they have collapsed the economy. What is your economic turn around plan? Do not even respond to questions surrounding the constitution, the constitution does not feed us.
Cant some see ECL’s body will be back at the apporiate time
This is/was between 2 persons remember
I am tired of listening to the buffoons! The other time one boasted happily of being called international Malukula and danced Dununa Reverse jovially like a mad man, and could even forget that he had a funeral and international spokesman for the same. The other day I heard that the spirit of ECL was not going to allow bill7, to go through. The other day, we heard that there would be no convention for pf.A day ago, we heard that the decree has been passed that only mourning songs must be sung in chawama constituency, after dancing and celebrations at the pf secretariat. That’s total buffoonery. Do they now want to start mourning after bill7, defeat?
I am tired of listening to the buffoons! The other time one boasted happily of being called international Malukula and danced Dununa Reverse jovially like a mad man, and could even forget that he had a funeral and that he was still an international spokesman for the same. The other day I heard that the spirit of ECL was not going to allow bill7 to go through. The other day, we heard that there would be no convention for pf, after reshuffles, blocking others from standing.
A day ago, we heard that the decree has been passed that only mourning songs must be sung in chawama constituency, after dancing and celebrations at the pf secretariat. That’s total buffoonery. Do they now want to start mourning after bill7, defeat?
There is no victory or defeat here, the architect himself said it. However, the big issue is the economy where the current government has lamentably failed, even UPND sympathisers are now voicing out in the compounds. Instead of sorting out loadshedding and high cost of living, you go and start tampering with the constitution. 6th poorest country in the world. Failures!
The 3donoky has failed? In which world do u live.
This government has raised reserved to 6.0 billion dollars, has made the economy come out of negative growth, has shifted from negative to to positive rating, and can now submit international guarantees for investment at international level.
These are facts, not perceptions.
Now what should happen is to grow the local economy, which u kali and I should participate in
My fellow Zedians, my people. Please open your eye and identify leadership, not Zulu na banankwe bakandilamo.
Lets just develop Zambia please….stop bringing Politics in everything “MR I KNOW EVERYTHING “……Have you ever heard a Chinese talk about the so called constitution….they’re busy working and developing China not bill 7 this bill 7 that….ma nonsense yeka yeka
Lets just develop Zambia please….stop bringing Politics in everything “MR I KNOW EVERYTHING “……Have you ever heard a Chinese talk about the so called constitution….they’re busy working and developing China not bill 7 this bill 7 that….ma nonsense yeka yeka
This Makebi moron guy is just a useless attention seeker….he overates himself way too much and he loves being in the spotlight
Ba makebi Zulu, after losing the Bill7, has become very confused. All what is saying is out of soar grapes