Human rights activist Laura Miti has accused government of introducing key changes to Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 without subjecting them to public scrutiny, warning that the manner in which the amendments were handled has lasting implications for democratic governance.
In a statement seen in today’s The Mast, Miti said alterations to provisions on proportional representation were not presented to citizens for interrogation, despite their far-reaching impact on the composition of Parliament and the balance of power between the Executive and the legislature.
She noted that the changes did not originate from either the Christopher Mushabati-led Technical Committee or the Parliamentary Committee that reviewed the Bill, raising questions about how and when the amendments were introduced into the final legislative framework.
According to Miti, the absence of transparency surrounding the changes undermined the credibility of the constitutional amendment process. Constitutional reform, she argued, demands openness and broad public participation, particularly where alterations affect the structure and authority of elected institutions.
She expressed concern that the revised provisions place expanded power in the hands of future Presidents, regardless of whether such authority is exercised responsibly. In her view, constitutions should be designed to restrain power rather than simplify its concentration.
Miti warned that easing the path to a two-thirds parliamentary majority carries serious consequences, given the authority such a threshold confers on the Executive. She maintained that such power should arise only from the explicit will of voters, not from structural advantages embedded within the Constitution.
Of particular concern, she said, was the linkage of proportional representation seats to presidential election outcomes. That arrangement, she argued, effectively grants ruling parties a substantial head start toward achieving a two-thirds majority before parliamentary voting even begins.
She pointed out that under the amended framework, dozens of parliamentary seats are effectively pre-allocated based on presidential results, reducing the electorate’s ability to shape a balanced and independent Parliament.
Miti also took issue with the public framing of the changes as measures intended to promote inclusion for women, youths and persons with disabilities. While inclusion remains important, she argued that the practical effect of the amendments is to strengthen Executive dominance rather than enhance representative diversity.
She drew parallels with past constitutional processes, cautioning that lightly handled amendments have previously laid the groundwork for institutional instability. Constitutional design, she stressed, should prioritise the protection of citizens, democratic institutions and future generations.
Miti maintained that the manner in which the Bill 7 changes were introduced has altered the democratic equation and narrowed the space for meaningful parliamentary oversight. She said citizens deserved full disclosure and participation in decisions of such magnitude.
Credit Source: The Mast, Sunday, December 21, 2025
I said it before and I’ll say it again, read Bill 7 word by word sentence by sentence. Understand paragraph by paragraph and apply critical thinking.
Even privatisation, we read sentence by sentence but still some people became stinking rich
This is getting boring much like the Lungu debacle let it be for now
these amongst others will be brought up at the right time
Now will be denial and more stories
Democracy dies when reforms bypass scrutiny. Three branches, multi-party pluralism these exist to check power. If UPND is in power, you must own decisions and justify them, not deflect as “the government.” Laura Miti is right: changes to proportional representation need public interrogation and transparent origins. State your stance, show how mainspring changes were developed, and commit to genuine public participation moving forward.
The same bill 7 which they think has brought them advantage will haunt them when they are out of power.
KK,Mwanawasa, Sata, all warned the Zambians. You thought they were wrong or malicious. And you should be surprised now
I dont like liars
Laura, Laura Laura, what was sneaked in without presentation to the public
Are u the only clever one, and the rest of us are not.
Bill 7 had 13 clauses.
Are u saying that this clause on proportional representation was not there. Kkkk.
We must have been using different types of eyes.