Zambia’s Church Leaders Want Bill on Constitutional Amendment “withdrawn in its entirety”

“We reaffirm our position: Bill 7 must be withdrawn in its entirety,” say the CCZ, EFZ, and ZCCB leaders.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

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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.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.