NGOCC BOYCOTTS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONSULTATIONS
By Victoria Kayeye Yambani
The Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has declined to participate in the ongoing public consultations being conducted by the Technical Committee on Constitutional Amendments, citing a lack of legitimacy, inclusiveness, and transparency in the process.
In a statement, NGOCC Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe said the current constitutional review process is a continuation of the widely rejected Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025, a move the organization believes is politically motivated and designed to achieve a predetermined outcome ahead of the 2026 General Elections.
The organization argues that the process should focus on developing a long-term, people-driven, and inclusive constitutional framework that promotes justice, equity, and accountability, rather than being tied to electoral interests.
Ms. Katebe also raised concerns over the composition of the Technical Committee, noting that members were appointed in their individual capacities rather than as representatives of key stakeholder institutions, with limited inclusion of youth and persons with disabilities.
The Council further criticized the Committee’s Terms of Reference for concentrating on political and electoral issues at the expense of critical socio-economic rights.
As a result, NGOCC has called on all well-meaning citizens to reject what it describes as a flawed, election-centric process and reaffirmed its commitment to pushing for genuine reforms that ensure the participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in decision-making spaces
_Diamond TV
Become president and do it the way you want, and let’s see if the entire population will applaud you. Why should Outcomes of constitution process be of concern if it is good. Just because it is not happening the way you want then it becomes bad? Stay where you are, and look on while Zambia is about to get the best of constitution since independence while you keep condemning the process
That’s the correct and right thing to do.
This Technical Committee on Constitutional Amendment pretending to be consulting Zambians is nothing but a Public Nuis*nce. Soon other institutions will tell off this Charade.
Zambians are not imbeciles to be treated to such nonsense.
NGOCC under leadership of Katebe is not the same as before. However, it risks being left behind and being irrelevant.