An urgent Message to His excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema on the illegal and unconstitutional process to amend the Republican Constitution.
Mr President, as a citizen endowed with the rights to defend and protect the Constitution of this country, l feel duty bound to remind you, Sir, that you are the number one custodian of the Constitution of this country. And that you publicly stood before the people with the holy Bible in your hand and swore that you would protect and defend the Constitution!
Mr President, l noted with dismay that you commended the recent ruling by the Hon Madam Speaker where she totally disregarded the Constitutional Court Judgement. I will not comment further on the Speaker’s ruling because the matter is now before the Constitutional Court.
But allow me, Your Excellency, to humbly appeal to you that you should listen to the voice of all stakeholders and withdraw Bill 7 from Parliament because the appropriate Court has categorically declared that Bill 7 is illegal and unconstitutional for want of the laid down processes and procedures. If this Bill is not withdrawn, the precedent being set will undermine the authority of the Judiciary and will threaten the rule of law which you have always passionately preached.
You are aware, Mr President, that Article 1(1&2) clearly provides that any act or omissions that contravenes any part of the Constitution is illegal and any law or practice that is inconsistent with any constitutional provision is null and void to the extent of that inconsistency.
I need not remind you, Sir, that the Republican Constitution which is the will of the people, is binding on all citizens including the Presidency and all state organs!
Your Excellency, one of your core responsibilities under the Constitution is to report to the National Assembly on the progress made in the application of the values and principles specified under Part II of the Constitution. Article 8 of the Constitution obliges you, Mr President, to report to the people of Zambia through Parliament on the National Values and Principles which include Constitutionalism, good governance and integrity which should apply to:
(a) interpretation of the Constitution;
(b) enactment and interpretation of the law; and
(c) development and implementation of state policy.
Sir, it is in view of the foregoing, that it is expedient that the illegal, unconstitutional and infamous Bill 7 be withdrawn.
If the disregard for the Judicial authority remains unchecked, Zambia risks long term institutional damage. Sir, Governance should never be driven by political expediency or hidden agendas at the expense of Constitutional Principles and Discipline.
Respectfully l submit,
Rev Godfridah Sumaili( Mrs)
Former Minister , National Guidance and Religious Affairs
Former Commissioner Human Rights Commission
Former Commissioner, Anti Corruption Commission
The constitutional court guided that more time should be given to discuss the content of the bill.
They did not say it is illegal. The entire reverend telling lies.
In fact the Constitutional Court’s decision to pronounce itself on a mere bill in Parliament is judicial overreach. The right time for the court would have been after the bill had been passed as law. So how did the court determine that it was definitely going to become law? The PF’s Bill 10 failed in Parliament without any court process. The Constitutional Court has violated the principle of separation of powers and that’s not healthy for Zambia’s democracy. Godfridah Sumaili, of course, knows this simple truth but she’s not interested in defending it because her PF colleagues will start questioning her loyalty.
Insighful gunner zikomo….
We actually missed you Reverend. Under your watch, Freemasons and bakumbuyo were in hiding. Fake prophets were not allowed entry into our country, and pornography was not tolerated. Morality compass was pointing the right direction. These days, it is free for all, sodom and gomorrah is in full swing.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2026.
Uli chipuba iwe chamupamba
Corrupt political failures, fake reverend, greedy politicians, swindlers, connmen, disgruntled jealousy and haters of HH have teamed up to disturb the good intentioned bill aimed at serving the common people in the constituencies. We need the law that will allow the splitting of large constituencies. And we can’t for 2031. Only political failures are afraid of their zero results. Tribalists against HH are also just worried of the rapid popularity of HH, HH may see HH getting over 150 parliamentary seats
She is always doing opposite thing when her party was busy GASSING PEOPLE her decided to remain silent.That woman is open Goal for PF criminals
I am inclined to agree with Gunner. How did the ConCourt get to this position without a written law but a bill still under consideration by Parliament? A bill being what it is, was still under consideration by Parliament and even if it passed that stage, it has to be signed by the President to become law. It could fail at any of these stages.
If you have seen the Law Association have taken this cue to petition the court on the Cyber law. Not because it was wrong but as a means to test the point Gunner raises.
Why when the bill was being debated were these points not raised? Why were valid points agaist the bill not raised so that they are debated in Parliament? Instead they want to make money and waste time clogging the courts with cases. How self serving