Catholic Bishops in Zambia Disapprove Revised Bill on Constitutional Amendment, Call for “genuinely inclusive process”

Key changes include the expansion of constituency-based seats, the introduction of a mixed-member proportional representation system, and the removal of term limits for mayors and council chairpersons.

In the statement, the Bishops say that the changes as proposed are not “non-contentious” issues, as claimed by all proponents of Bill No. 7, but rather matters of deep national significance that demand broad-based consensus and public ownership.

Referring to the June 27 Constitutional Court ruling, which declared the process used to enact Bill 7 unconstitutional, the Bishops explain their disapproval of the Bill as being based on the lack of genuine public participation, among other reasons.

They say that the current amendment process of the Bill has been tightly controlled by the executive, with limited and sporadic consultation, as Citizens, civil society, traditional leaders, and faith-based organizations “have not been meaningfully engaged.”

Additionally, the Bishops say that “no public reports have been issued to justify the proposed amendments or to reflect the outcomes of consultations.”

They also attribute their disapproval to the absence of transparency and accountability during the whole process of enactment, saying, “The roadmap for constitutional reform lacks clarity on how public submissions will be incorporated.

“There is no mechanism to ensure that the voices of ordinary Zambians influence the final text of the Bill,” the Bishops say, and explain, “This undermines legitimacy and risks producing a constitution serving political interests rather than the common good.”

The Bishops also say that the Bill raises “technical and democratic concerns” as several provisions suffer from what they describe as “defects and lack popular support.”

“The removal of term limits for local leaders, reconfiguration of council composition, and ambiguous handling of vacancies raise serious concerns about democratic accountability and institutional integrity,” they say.

The Catholic Bishops further attribute their disapproval of the Bill to its precedence of failed reform processes.

They explain that the approach “mirrors past failed attempts such as the Mung’omba Commission and the National Constitutional Conference, where executive dominance and lack of inclusivity led to rejection.”

Additionally, the Bishops say that the Bill also contradicts the rule of law, following the June Constitutional Court ruling, which had already declared it unconstitutional.

“Proceeding to re-introduce Bill No. 7 of 2025 without complying with Constitutional Court directives would represent a dangerous breakdown of the rule of law and a departure from the principle that everyone, including those governing, is subject to the law,” they warn.

The Bishops say that while approving that Constitutional reform is a vital exercise in strengthening democratic governance, holistic review is necessary. “We want to reaffirm our consistent appeal for a holistic review and reform of Zambia’s Constitution anchored on broad-based citizens and stakeholder consensus,” they say.

In the statement signed by Zambia’s 12 Catholic Bishops, ZCCB members also reflect on the process for appointing the country's new Superior Court judges, which they say must remain transparent.

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They say, “Because of justified public interest, judicial appointments must be transparent, merit-based, and free from partisan or tribal considerations.”

The Bishops, however, lament that “the process remains opaque.”

“Vacancies are not widely advertised, and the selection criteria are often hidden from public scrutiny,” they say, and add, “This lack of transparency fosters perceptions of executive overreach and judicial partiality, eroding public confidence in courts.”

In the spirit of constitutional fidelity and national unity, the Bishops urge that the ongoing judicial appointments process be reconsidered.

They say that “The process must at all times and stages meet the standards of transparency, merit, and public accountability that our democracy demands.”

“We exhort all Zambians to remain united as One Zambia One Nation in ensuring the steady growth of our young democracy for a better Zambia that will be a pride of future generations,” they say.