JERE CAUTIONS AGAINST CHANGING CONSTITUTION TO SUIT POLITICAL INTERESTS
Lusaka… Wednesday September 23, 2026
National Freedom Front (NFF) President Ronnie Jere has cautioned against any attempt to amend Zambia’s Constitution for the political convenience of a sitting president, government or political party, saying the country’s supreme law should remain a stable framework governing all political actors.
Mr Jere said the debate on presidential term limits should not be reduced to whether voters should be allowed to retain a president they consider to have performed well in office.
He argued that constitutional democracy also required consideration of the long-term stability of the country’s constitutional framework.
“A Constitution should not be amended at the convenience of a President, a government or a political party,” Mr Jere said.
He said the Constitution was intended to place limits on political power rather than be repeatedly adjusted by those holding political office.
Mr Jere noted that Zambia amended its Constitution in 2025 and said renewed discussions about further amendments, coming shortly after that process, should attract public attention.
He stated that while citizens could legitimately debate the merits of presidential term limits, there was a need for caution against establishing a political culture in which constitutional provisions were changed whenever they became inconvenient to those in power.
“Democracy cannot simply mean: ‘If we like the President, change the rules so that we can keep him,” he said.
Mr Jere said such an approach could create a situation where successive governments sought to alter the Constitution to suit their own political circumstances.
He said Article 106 of the Constitution provides for a five-year presidential term and restricts a person who has twice held the office of President from being elected to the position again.
“We may debate whether that provision is wise. We may debate whether term limits are necessary. We may debate the balance between continuity and political renewal,” Mr Jere indicated.
“But we should be extremely careful about normalising the idea that constitutional rules can simply be changed whenever a particular political circumstance makes them inconvenient.”
Mr Jere also addressed speculation that the removal of presidential term limits could form part of a future constitutional amendment.
He said speculation should not be presented as fact, but warned that his position would be clear should such a proposal formally be presented to the Zambian people.
“If such a proposal is ever formally placed before the Zambian people, we will oppose it,” he concluded.
Mr Jere stressed, however, that his position should not be interpreted as opposition to constitutional reform.