No Second Term for Hichilema, Says M’Membe

Socialist Party president Dr Fred M’membe has accused President Hakainde Hichilema of attempting to extend his rule through the controversial Constitution (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025, warning that the move is illegal and opposed by the Zambian people.

Speaking on the Socialist Hour programme on Hot FM, Dr M’membe said the government’s push to revive the bill was designed to secure Hichilema’s second term by altering constitutional provisions that govern next year’s general elections.

“Bill 7 is about the political preservation of Hichilema, securing his second term in a manner that is not highly contested,” he said. “If you look at the changes that are being made, the majority of them are to do with elections.”

The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) recently warned government against reintroducing Bill 7 in Parliament, citing a lack of genuine public participation as required by law. The Constitutional Court had earlier declared the bill illegal, ruling that its foundation lacked meaningful stakeholder engagement.

Dr M’membe said the president’s insistence on bringing back the bill showed a disregard for public sentiment and judicial authority. He described the process as dishonest, accusing the administration of denying its intentions only to proceed later.

“They denied it completely. Eventually, they started to do what they had denied they wouldn’t do. That shows you that there was no honesty in their approach to this whole thing,” he said.

M’membe added that the consultations being conducted by the Ministry of Justice were not genuine. He alleged that officials were not engaging in open dialogue but were instead attempting to pressure Zambians to accept predetermined constitutional changes.

“These are not issues coming from the Zambian people. There is no legal framework for discussion. It’s who he wants to meet. He sends his minister of justice on a mission that they claim is a consultation. It’s not a consultation. It’s a propagation,” he said. “They went there to force the Zambian people to accept what they were trying to change. Mr Hichilema is adamant about the 13 changes he wants to make.”

The Socialist Party leader warned that amending the Constitution through what he called an illegal process was a threat to democracy. He cautioned supporters of the bill that they would one day be held accountable for their actions.

“Each one of them has been demolished thoroughly by many people. You don’t need to have legal training to understand or to be critical of what he is trying to do. Basically, it’s about Mr Hichilema; it is conceived by him, it is implemented by him. It’s being imposed on the Zambian people by Mr Hichilema,” he said.

Meanwhile, All People’s Congress president Nason Msoni echoed concerns over the planned constitutional amendments, warning that those involved would face consequences for what he described as criminal acts.

“This Bill 7 is an illegality, and anyone who attempts to reintroduce it in Parliament will be committing a crime against Zambians. They must know that they will soon be made to account for such criminal acts. This is a friendly warning to anyone behind such criminal schemes,” Msoni said.

He emphasised that Zambians had consistently rejected the bill through multiple platforms, including statements by the Church, civil society, opposition parties, the business community, and a court ruling.

“The Church has spoken against it, civil society organisations have, too, political parties have, even the UPND itself is not in support of Bill 7, the business community has expressed concerns, too, the court has ruled against it, making it illegal. So, why is Hichilema forcing it through? Our advice is stop it and stop it now!” he said.

The Catholic bishops reaffirmed their opposition to the bill, stating that its current form fails to uphold participatory democracy, transparency and constitutional integrity. They called for a genuinely inclusive and consultative process that respects all stakeholders’ voices.

The debate over Bill 7 has emerged as one of the most contentious political issues ahead of the 2026 general elections. Its reintroduction is expected to attract intense scrutiny from civil society, the Church, opposition parties and legal bodies.

Zambia’s Socialist Party president Dr. Fred M’membe has questioned the purpose of President Hakainde Hichilema’s recent trip to Scotland, raising concerns over the timing of the visit and its possible links to events in the United Kingdom.

In a statement released on October 2, Dr. M’membe asked for clarification on the President’s engagements while in Scotland. “There are many questions that need honest answers about Mr. Hakainde Hichilema’s trip to Scotland. What was this trip about? Let them help us by explaining. We don’t want to insinuate anything,” he stated.

Dr. M’membe noted that on October 1, 2025, a major Freemason programme took place in Scotland and observed that President Hichilema had been absent from social media during that day, which he described as unusual. The following day, Dr. M’membe pointed out, the President appeared at a sewing machine project and walked in the garden at the King’s Foundation.

The Socialist Party leader also drew attention to publicly available information linking the British royal family to Freemasonry. He cited historical and current figures including King Edward VII, King George VI, and the Duke of Kent, Prince Edward, who has served as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England since 1967. Other royals mentioned were Prince Michael of Kent, also a Freemason, and the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. “Let them help us by explaining, we don’t want to insinuate anything,” Dr. M’membe concluded.

Meanwhile, President Hichilema has outlined the objectives of his official visit to Scotland, which included an audience with His Majesty King Charles III and participation in discussions at Dumfries House, the private royal residence in Glasgow.

In a statement issued before yesterday, President Hichilema said his official visit to Glasgow had “concluded earlier today after a fruitful meeting with His Majesty King Charles III.” He added that he had since travelled to London to continue engagements with the British Government and potential investors. “We are looking forward to making the case for more investment to come to our country. Thank you for your continued prayers and support,” the President wrote.

The Zambian Head of State said his working visit at Dumfries House included participation in a high-level roundtable discussion hosted by the King’s Foundation. According to President Hichilema, the discussions focused on education, skills training, climate change, and sustainable communities.

“The roundtable also included Baroness Smith, the UK Minister for Skills, giving us the opportunity to discuss practical approaches to skills development and education reform,” President Hichilema stated. He said Zambia used the forum to highlight its priorities in designing curricula that meet economic needs, tackling climate change, and equipping young people with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.

“These conversations are not just about exchanging ideas. They are about building lasting partnerships that will deliver real benefits for Zambians through knowledge transfer, new opportunities, and investment in human capital,” he said.

President Hichilema added that the First Lady and himself were accorded an opportunity to tour the Dumfries Estate, guided by King Charles III.

In another update on the trip, President Hichilema emphasised the importance of partnerships between Zambia and the United Kingdom. “Our discussions focused on areas of mutual interest between Zambia and the United Kingdom, including sustainable natural resource management, a cause close to His Majesty’s heart, guided by the principle of humans living in harmony with nature,” he wrote.

The President further stressed Zambia’s commitment to securing initiatives and financing that would support development projects and create opportunities for citizens. “We are sincerely grateful to His Majesty for his warm welcome, invitation, and gracious hospitality during our stay in Glasgow. From here, we continue to London for further discussions with investors and the UK Government, as we work to bring tangible benefits to every Zambian,” President Hichilema said.

Dr. M’membe has maintained his call for the government to explain the details of the President’s trip, while the Head of State has continued with his programme in the United Kingdom aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and attracting investment.

The third annual Digital Government Summit is set to kick off in Lusaka on Tuesday, October 7, with government leaders, tech giants and investors from across Africa and beyond gathering to discuss the future of digital governance on the continent.

Speaking during a pre-summit briefing, Acting Minister of Technology and Science Elvis Nkandu emphasized the country’s growing role in Africa’s digital transformation efforts and highlighted the summit as a platform for innovation, investment and collaboration.

He said Zambia is making great strides in building a smart, progressive, and innovative society and the summit is an opportunity to showcase Zambia’s progress to the continent.

He said the summit, which will be held from October 7 to 9 at Ciela Resort, Lusaka, is expected to draw 500 participants from across Africa, including Vice Presidents, Ministers, and senior public officials, as well as private technology firms including Meta and Microsoft and investors.

He said as part of Zambia’s broader strategy to become a regional technology hub, the government is prioritising infrastructure development and regulatory support to attract international business and investment.

“With a peaceful and stable environment, Zambia is open for business. We are ready to become a continental force in digital transformation,” Mr Nkandu said.

And Minister of Home Affairs Jack Mwiimbu said the summit will be focused on digital identity and e-governance.

Mr Mwiimbu acknowledged ongoing challenges in implementing the national digital identity system, including issues related to authentication and data frustration.

However, he emphasized the government’s commitment to overcoming these hurdles through improved coordination and technology.

He also highlighted the role of the Integrated National Registration Information System (INRIS), a digital platform designed to transform access to healthcare, education and social services through streamlined registration processes.

“Our next plan is to fully integrate the digital identity system across community-level systems to ensure unrestricted access through mobile registration,” Mr Mwiimbu said.

He also noted the successful implementation of the Data Protection Act, calling it a key step toward building public trust in digital governance, adding that Plans are underway to integrate digital identity with immigration systems to facilitate travel and enhance border security.

Speaking earlier, African Brains Chief Executive Officer (CEO) John Glassey praised Zambia for its continued role as host of the event since its inception in 2023, emphasizing that the summit is not a traditional conference but a ‘meeting-based format’ aimed at forging real partnerships between governments and the private sector.

Mr Glassey said the initiative, led by national digital coordinators, aims to modernise government services through digital transformation, focusing on skills, infrastructure and partnerships with companies like Microsoft and Visa.

He noted that since 2023, the summit has showcased progress in digital governance, attracting global companies to Zambia for direct engagement.

The CEO emphasized that the goal of the summit was to improve government efficiency and citizens’ lives through technologies like AI, noting that real transformation is now underway.

Meanwhile Smart Zambia Coordinator Percy Chinyama said the summit stems from a 2021 Cabinet push for stronger regional collaboration in tech and governance.

Mr Chinyama emphasized that collaboration, both domestic and regional, was central to Zambia’s digital model.

Hosting the summit, he said, reflects Zambia’s leadership in shaping Africa’s digital future.

He urged the media to actively cover the event and amplify its outcomes.

“The media has a key role in ensuring the summit’s insights reach the public,” Mr Chinyama said.

Topics will include e-governance, cybersecurity, digital identity and regional data policies.

The summit will be officially opened by President Hakainde Hichilema on Tuesday October 7, 2025.

Minister of Infrastructure and Urban Development Charles Milupi says putting up roads across the country will help to boost the economy of the country.

The Minister observes that with the good road network in place more sectors will open up for various investments.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on the Ng’umbo Chiefs before officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Musaila -Kasaba road, The Minister indicates that the new road in Chifunabuli will open up the area for business.

Mr Milupi points out that the government wants all the provinces in the country to be contributing to the economic development of the country and that this can only be done once there is a good road network.

He states that works on the Musaila -Kasaba road will commence soon after the ground-breaking ceremony as the government wants the road to be done as soon as possible.

“The only time I will be here after today is when I will be checking on the quality of the road which will be done,” he says.

The Infrastructure Minister said the previous government had changed the works on the Musaila -Kasaba road from bituminous to gravel but that his government has taken it back to bituminous.

Mr Milupi said putting up a gravel road in Chifunabuli district would not have helped to grow the economy of the district as people would still have difficulties when moving.

“So here you will have a tar road the entire 80 kilometres stretch from Musaila to Kasaba and this will ease the movement of the people,” he said.

And speaking on behalf of other Ng’umbo Chiefs, senior Chief Mwewa says they never thought that the government would work on the road so soon as most governments failed to do the work.

He pointed out that most of the people in the area had doubts when they heard that the government will work on the road but now they have believed.

“This just goes to show how committed the government is in ensuring that all parts of the country receive equal development, ” he says.

Senior Chief Mwewa said the commencement of the construction of the Musaila -Kasaba road is a true testament by the government that they mean well for the people of Chifunabuli.