Zambia’s Church Leaders Want Bill on Constitutional Amendment “withdrawn in its entirety”

Lusaka, 12 July, 2025 / 8:41 PM

Church leaders in Zambia have jointly called for the withdrawal of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of May 2025, which seeks to amend the Southern African nation’s Constitution “in its entirety”.

In a Friday,  July 11  letter addressed to the Secretary to the Cabinet, the church leaders, who included representatives of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) say that the process used to enact the Bill is “unconstitutional” and lacks legitimacy.

In the letter, they explain that their position is based not only on the law but also on “the spirit of justice, inclusivity, and constitutional integrity.”

The Bill proposes significant changes to the Constitution of Zambia, primarily focusing on the composition and electoral system of the National Assembly, and local government structures.

Key changes include increasing the number of constituency-based seats, introducing a mixed-member proportional representation system, and revising provisions related to by-elections and the term of Parliament.

“We reaffirm our position: Bill 7 must be withdrawn in its entirety,” say the CCZ, EFZ, and ZCCB leaders.

Referring to the June 27 Constitutional Court ruling, which declared the process used to enact Bill 7 unconstitutional, the church leaders stress that the verdict must be respected.

“The Court's decision is clear: constitutional reforms must adhere to legal procedures outlined in the Constitution. Given this ruling, Bill 7 lacks legitimacy,” they say.

Commending the judiciary for upholding the law, the church leaders urge all arms of government to “respect the rule of law and avoid undermining constitutional processes.”

CCZ, EFZ, and ZCCB leaders call for a new approach to constitutional reform, and specifically “call upon the government to ensure that any future constitutional reform processes are people-driven, inclusive of civil society and faith-based organizations, transparent and consultative.”

They emphasize that “the Constitution belongs to the people of Zambia. Any attempt to alter it must reflect a broad national consensus, not narrow political interests.”

Reaffirming their prophetic role in society, the church leaders say they “remain committed to walking with the people of Zambia and contributing constructively to national dialogue and constitutional governance.”

“Our role is not partisan, but prophetic, to speak truth to power and defend the dignity of every citizen,” say the CCZ, EFZ, and ZCCB leaders.

They also appeal for national unity and warn against the politicization of the Constitution, saying, “We appeal to all political actors and stakeholders to avoid divisive language or actions that could polarize the nation.”

The church leaders further emphasize that the “Constitution must never become a battleground for partisan advantage but a foundation for unity, peace, and justice.”

“We remain open and willing to facilitate or participate in honest, inclusive dialogue on constitutional matters that reflect the will and aspirations of all Zambians,” they say, and add, “As Zambia moves forward, we urge all leaders to embrace the values of justice, humility, and accountability.”