By Darius Choonya
Fourteen Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have rejected the government’s fast-tracked constitutional amendment process, urging President Hakainde Hichilema to delay any changes until after the 2026 general elections.
The CSOs—among them Chapter One Foundation, Alliance for Community Action (ACA), ActionAid, Transparency International Zambia (TIZ), Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD), and Women for Change—have vowed to mobilize different sectors of society to resist what they describe as an undemocratic process.
Speaking at a joint press briefing, ZCSD Executive Director Leah Mitaba, on behalf of the CSOs, condemned the process as a manipulative attempt to integrate women and youth participation through a delimitation exercise rather than a transparent constitutional review.
Former President Edgar Lungu has equally opposed the amendment, labeling it politically unhealthy, undemocratic, unacceptable, and unnecessary—especially given that President Hichilema himself opposed and protested against Bill 10 in 2020.
However, State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka, when contacted for comment, defended the process, insisting that adequate consultations have been conducted and that Zambians do not want an unnecessarily lengthy process.
