In early March, President Hakainde Hichilema announced that the country had agreed to amend the Constitution before the 2026 General Elections, sparking a heated debate. Critics questioned the urgency of the move, with many stakeholders opposing the proposed amendments.

However, the situation took a new turn when Justice Minister Princess Kasune unveiled the roadmap for constitutional amendments in a recent address to Parliament. The proposal outlines steps for the amendment process, but opposition members of Parliament swiftly walked out during the Minister’s speech. Opposition leaders, including Constitutional Lawyer Patrick Chisanga, voiced their opposition to what they described as an unconstitutional process. "I stand here as a very sad Constitutional Lawyer who has witnessed what is called a constitutional coup d'etat," Chisanga remarked, describing the amendment process as flawed and unjust.

Stakeholders have raised concerns over the proposed amendments, which include changes to the tenure of office for elected public officials. Notably, the proposed amendments do not include changes to the presidential term, an issue that had been expected to be a major focus. Contrary to expectations, there is no proposal to extend the presidential term from five to seven years, nor any changes to the 50+1 requirement for presidential candidates.

One of the more contentious proposals is an increase in the number of members of Parliament, a move that has sparked fears of strengthening presidential powers. The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has expressed concerns that this would allow the incumbent government to manipulate the system for political gain.

LAZ has called for a delay in the amendment process until after the August 2026 elections, but the government remains resolute in pushing forward with the amendments.

--ChannelAfrica--