Bill 7 passes third reading with all MPs present voting in favour of it. MPs vote: YES -135,
NO – 0 and ABSTAIN – 0
BILL 7 CLEARS THE NUMBERS, PARLIAMENT ERUPTS AS SECOND READING PASSES
Parliament has crossed a decisive threshold this afternoon as Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 secured the required two-thirds majority at Second Reading, pushing the controversial legislation to the next stage amid raw emotion, procedural clashes, and visible jubilation on the floor of the House.
With 131 votes recorded in favour and only two opposed, the numbers settled a debate that had dominated national politics for weeks. The arithmetic had loomed large from the outset.
Out of 167 Members of Parliament, including elected, nominated, and ex-officio members, the Bill required at least 110 votes to survive Second Reading due to the Chawama vacancy. It cleared that bar comfortably.
The session itself was anything but routine.
Tensions peaked when Nkana Member of Parliament Binwell Mpundu mounted a forceful submission, warning that Parliament was “on the verge of undermining the Constitution.” Mpundu invoked the Constitutional Court and framed his stance as one for history, declaring, “I resolved to stand firm in defence of the Constitution of the Republic. I will not associate myself with any process that amounts to illegality.”
Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti cut in sharply, cautioning Mpundu against interpreting the law. “You are not a lawyer,” she reminded him, steering the House back to procedure and drawing murmurs across the chamber.
Mpundu nonetheless concluded by excusing himself from further participation, saying posterity would judge the House.
Moments earlier, another flashpoint had unfolded when Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa attempted to raise a point of order and table a document during debate.
“My point of order is very compelling, Madam Speaker,” Sampa insisted, saying he had evidence to support his claim.
Speaker Mutti rejected the move outright. “That is not how documents are laid on the Table,” she ruled, ordering the paper withdrawn. She stressed that Standing Orders require verification before any document can be admitted, adding that without compliance, “your point of order falls off.”
Throughout the heated exchanges, the Speaker repeatedly appealed for order and restraint. “I am not going to chase anyone out of the House,” Mutti said.
“Those who wish to leave may do so on their own. Let us maintain order and decorum so that we proceed seamlessly.”
When the vote was finally taken, the mood shifted instantly. Government benches erupted in applause. The two-thirds line had been crossed. Bill 7 survived its most politically dangerous hurdle.
The result confirmed what behind-the-scenes tallies had suggested all weekend. The ruling UPND bloc, bolstered by nominated members, ex-officio votes, a section of independents, and a breakaway group from the opposition benches, had the numbers.
Opposition threats of mass boycotts and court warnings did not translate into sufficient resistance on the floor.
Outside the chamber, reactions were immediate and polarized. Supporters framed the vote as a democratic endorsement of reform. Critics called it defiance of the courts. On social media, accusations of inducements flew freely, even as no evidence was formally presented in the House.
What is beyond dispute is that the centre of gravity has now shifted. Bill 7 moves forward, politically strengthened by a clear numerical mandate, but still carrying deep national divisions into the next stages.
The debate was fierce. The vote was decisive. And Zambia’s constitutional contest has entered a new and irreversible phase.
© The People’s Brief | Goran Handya
Mwa nyala wansi more ba fi colour.
I read in Matthew 7: 13 – 14 , that
” Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go there at
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth into life, and few there be that find it.. KJV
And so that fake majority, in Parliament, thinks it has its day…But Dead they are , for the life is with the living, and the struggle will continue.
For the Illegitimate and unconstitutional Bill 7, made in some one’s Bedroom is illegal and Unconstitutional..and it will always remain so.
And the Illegal Law which will come out of an illegitimate and unconstitutional Bill 7 will always remain illegal.
Hakainde at some time will release the Delimitation Report .
He will release the Census Report per district and constituency
He will explain how he came up with the 55 additional Parliamentary seats .
He will explain on what basis he distributed those seats.
The People ‘s power has already seen through his schemes, and at an opportune time, he and his partners in illegalities will be put to size.
It’s just a matter of time…
Enjoy your day of Crime.
Unfortunately Democracy doesn’t interpret that verse like that, it’s actually the opposite of that.
No one lives forever. The laws made to oppress others, will be the same laws used against those that made them. Zambia lives on. It is just a matter of time.
REJECT TRIBALISM, CORRUPTION AND OPPRESSION.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2026.
You are merely stating the obvious: nobody lives forever, you, me and the other Dude, we all know that, and indeed Zambia lives on for your children, grand children and great grand children and mine also, so you and me let us leave a better Zambia, not one where we daily talk about tribalism, Zambezi Region, Muchinga Region or whatever mental fixation we created for our small brains. We are planting poison and toxin in our young ones. Bemba, Tonga, Lozi are just our diversity and heritage which we should celebrate not source of division in our beautiful country Zambia. Epela
After all the hype by the opposition and some NGOs, this is the result. It is a foretaste of things to come. 2026 elections will be no different. The opposition have offered nothing in terms of viable alternative policies. Just the usual, “vote for me. You will not regret”.
All they are good at is telling us about loadshedding and the high cost of living as if we need anyone to remind us. They keep saying UPND is a one term government. Come August 2026, they will be in for a rude shock.