Makebi Zulu Calls for Inclusive Constitutional Reform, Rejects Amendment Bill No. 7

Lusaka, Sunday 2 November 2025

Patriotic Front Presidential aspirant, Hon. Makebi Zulu, has called for the immediate withdrawal of Amendment Bill No. 7, describing it as unconstitutional, divisive, and lacking in national consensus.

In a statement released on Sunday, Senior Counsel Makebi Zulu stated that his stance was not about scoring political points but about defending Zambia’s core democratic values transparency, accountability, and the rightful voice of the people.

“Today, I speak not to score political points, but to defend the values that bind us together: democracy, transparency, and the rightful voice of the people,” Zulu said.

“We stand opposed to Amendment Bill No. 7, not out of mere opposition to change, but out of a principled commitment to inclusive, lawful, and accountable reform.”

Hon. Zulu a renowned Constitutional lawyer emphasized that the Constitution remains the supreme charter of the Republic, protecting freedoms, regulating power, and ensuring that every citizen has a stake in the nation’s future. He warned that Amendment Bill No. 7 proposes far-reaching changes that could alter how power is exercised and how citizens influence national policy.

“The question we must all ask,” he said, “is whether these changes will strengthen our democracy or concentrate power in the hands of a few, bypassing broad consensus and undermining the very safeguards we depend on.”

The former lawmaker highlighted major omissions by the drafters of the bill of failing to meaningfully consult the people, citing reports from the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and several civil society organizations.

He noted that the Constitutional Court had previously declared a similar amendment unconstitutional, a ruling he said should have served as a lesson in governance.

“A constitution is not the property of a ruling party or a narrow faction; it belongs to every citizen,” Hon. Zulu said.

“When a nation drafts a constitution without broad-based input, it risks producing a document that lacks legitimacy in the eyes of those it is meant to govern.”

He further argued that the proposed amendments risk upsetting the balance of power between the executive and the legislature, potentially weakening institutional independence and eroding accountability.

He also questioned the timing of the reforms, pointing to Zambia’s pressing economic and social challenges.

“The nation faces economic hardship, unreliable power supply, and growing concerns about corruption and governance. In such moments, constitutional reform should be guided by prudence, not expediency,” he stated.

Emphasizing the need for unity, the learned counsel described the Constitution as a “unifying instrument” that should bring together diverse voices rather than entrench partisan divisions.

“Our nation thrives when citizens across regions and backgrounds see themselves reflected in the charter that governs them,” he said.

The former minister urged government to withdraw Amendment Bill No. 7 and restart the process in a transparent and participatory manner, engaging all key stakeholders including civil society, faith leaders, business communities, workers, traditional authorities, and ordinary citizens.

“We advocate for a process that builds broad consensus, meets the highest standards of legality and procedural fairness, and prioritizes real solutions to the economy, energy, health, and governance challenges that affect people’s daily lives,” he declared.

He concluded by calling on Zambians to remain steadfast in defending the rule of law and protecting the spirit of democracy.

“Let us choose a path that honours the promises of democracy one that is open, inclusive, and governed by the rule of law,” he said. “May wisdom guide our decisions for the common good.”

KAPWEPWE COUNSELS HH ON ECL BURIAL

RESPECTING the wishes of late sixth president Edgar Lungu is the simplest decision President Hakainde Hichilema can make, Mulenga Kapwepwe, daughter of late former vice president Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe has said.

Kapwepwe said her father died while being persecuted and late Kenneth Kaunda did not impose himself on or dictate the funeral.

She said after the death of her father, government only asked what it could help with during the funeral and not to impose any decisions.

“The government only came to ask us as family members ‘how can we help? I didn’t come to impose decisions on the family’,” Kapwepwe said.

Speaking when she featured on KBN TV, she said the family only accepted that the government help carry the body to Chinsali for burial.

Kapwepwe said when it came to allowing Kaunda to attend the funeral, the family made various considerations.

“So, when it came time to bury, the coffin that was bought by government was smashed. Most people think we smashed it because it came from the government. No. But we could not bury my father in that coffin because of royal lines,” she said.

Kapwepwe said the family opted to do so in fulfillment of their father’s instructions and it was nothing to do with politics.

He said Kaunda was instructed not to give any speech at the funeral and he obliged even when he had already stood.

Kapwepwe credited Kaunda for listening to the wishes of the family.

“Credit to Kaunda. He turned around and he went and sat down. It must have been not pleasant for him. But he did it. As far as we were concerned, he honoured our wishes,” she said.

Kapwepwe said despite the family agreeing that his father’s funeral be turned into a state funeral, the government was not allowed to dictate.

“Kaunda’s stepping back from Kapwepwe’s funeral brought a lot of healing to the family. When you are in the position of power, you are the one who has the power to make things come right for everyone,” she said.

Kapwepwe said government cannot say they have done enough when they have taken the Lungu family to court.

She said there is no law in this country that says Lungu must be buried at the roundabout and his body given to the State.

“But the law right now merely says the government, in the Presidential Benefits Act, will help with the funeral expenses. It doesn’t say the government will own the body, or the government will dictate the terms,” Kapwepwe said.

She said Hichilema should respect the wishes of the Lungu family. Failure to do so, the two would never agreed.

“I personally think it was a simple matter because of my own experience. Because once Hichilema respects the other side in the same way that Kaunda respected what we wanted, I think there’s room for that respect,” Kapwepwe said.

The Mast

NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE ZAMBIA – SANGWA

MOVEMENT for National Renewal leader John Sangwa says citizens must realise that there is no saviour that is coming to save Zambia because the turning around of the country is a responsibility of every citizen.

Sangwa says it is not possible for government to fix all of the country’s problems, arguing that citizens must acknowledge that the country is in a bad place and make a collective decision to improve the situation.

Speaking when he featured on Crown TV, Wednesday, Sangwa said his movement’s main message to citizens is that the transformation of the country cannot be left to those in government alone.

“The starting point is this; since independence, we have been made to believe that citizens should just sit there and government will fix everything. The truth of the matter is, that is not possible and that has not worked. What we are saying as the Movement for National Renewal is that, the turning around of this country is a collective responsibility; it is not the responsibility of a single leader.

What is required [is] that each and every Zambian must be able to step forward, we must first of all, as Zambians, make a collective decision to acknowledge where we are, that this is not a good place we are in, we shouldn’t be where we are and then make a collective decision to say, ‘we deserve better, we should be in a better place,’” Sangwa noted.

“It requires us to be able to join hands. It’s not a job of the leadership alone, it is the job of those elected as well as the citizens themselves, holding hands, to choose to transform this country. That is the primary message that we are saying.

Citizens must come to this realisation that there is no saviour that will come to save Zambia, and there is no president or leader that can save Zambia [but] that we, together, with those elected and ourselves as citizens, we are the solution to our problems. It’s not about whether you have a particular economic policy or not, that is the starting point, to accept first of all. Zambia’s problem is not about policies, it is invariably our failure or political will to implement those policies”.

Sangwa stressed that there has been a decline in the quality of life since 2021, adding that the country’s challenges are much greater now compared to four years ago.

“If you look at one of the issues that we are talking about in the National Renewal is to ask Zambians first of all, to acknowledge the extent and the depth of the challenges that the country faces. The moment we acknowledge that, then the next question that we should be talking about is what do we do about those challenges?

But when we keep telling ourselves lies that things are okay, and in any case you don’t even need to tell an average Zambian as to how he feels, they know the reality as to what they are going through. In fact, if you ask any average Zambian to say, how is your life today compared to 2021, I don’t think people will say there’s been [an] improvement. In fact, there’s been a decline in the quality of life and many other factors. The challenges are far much greater than they were,” said Sangwa.

“But of course, this is not attributable to a single government, all the governments that we have had since 1964, they have largely contributed to the situation where we are and that is why we are saying that it is time for us to pause and reflect and call for the renewal of the country. The problem is, the population has grown but the economy has not kept up with that population growth. Our population has grown faster than our economy.

At independence, our GDP was roughly a billion dollars. That one billion dollars in today’s terms would be equivalent to $10 billion but what was last year’s GDP? It was $25 billion.

Basically, you are saying, from independence to date, you have only added on something like $15 billion, which would be roughly about one and a half or two and a half times but during the same time, the population has grown seven times. The economy is not growing as it should”.

Sangwa urged political leaders who were promising voters what they would do for them once elected to ensure that they created wealth first because the country was broke.

News Diggers

⬆️ WEEKEND POLITICAL DIGEST | Zambia’s Temperature Rises Ahead of 2026

Lusaka felt tense this week. The governing party confronted its own shortcomings. The opposition pursued litigation instead of rallies. The former ruling party showed its fractures in public. And a prominent lawyer sharpened his critique from the digital frontline. Together, the movements mark a turning point in Zambia’s approach to politics as the calendar inches toward the 2026 general election. The centre of gravity is shifting. Pressure is rising. And accountability is becoming the battlefield.

 State House Shift — Hichilema Admits Failure on Energy

President Hakainde Hichilema broke from political orthodoxy and admitted failure on energy. Few sitting leaders acknowledge shortcomings in an election cycle. His statement was blunt.

“We must be honest with ourselves as government and as a people that we have failed to deal with energy in the way our economy demands.”

The admission followed weeks of criticism over load-shedding and slow renewable rollout. Zambia remains heavily dependent on hydropower, and climate-driven water shortages have exposed the fragility of that foundation. The president’s tone suggested urgency layered with frustration. The public now expects visible action, not policy language.

⚖️ Opposition Strategy — Kasonde Mwenda Goes to Court

The opposition seized the moment. Economic Freedom Fighters leader Kasonde Mwenda chose the courts, not rallies, filing suit against the government over the allegedly continued electricity exports to Botswana and Namibia while citizens endure outages.

His application stated that “While you the people of this Republic are forced to survive on a mere four hours of electricity daily, this government continues to export our precious energy to foreign countries.”

Hearing slated for November 26, his demand is clear. He wants the Energy Regulation Board ordered to suspend non-essential exports until domestic supply stabilises. The legal move signals a new form of opposition pressure: tactical, evidence-based and designed to force disclosures.

If the court entertains the matter fully, the administration may be required to reveal contractual details that have been largely undisclosed.

 PF Turmoil — Mwamba vs Mundubile in Public View

The Patriotic Front, once the undisputed governing force, remains in a combative internal struggle. Information Chief Emmanuel Mwamba issued a public order to halt campaigns and endorsements until the Central Committee authorises them.

“Stop illegal campaigns and illegal endorsements until Central Committee provides guidance and campaigns are officially open,” he insisted.

His framing was about discipline and reputation management. The image he wants to avoid is one of chaos. Instead, he triggered a public rebuttal.

Brian Mundubile, a leading contender for the party presidency, continued campaigning and was defended by party loyalists. One PF voice labelled Mwamba’s directive as “rubbish,” signalling that authority inside the party is now contested, not assumed.

️ Convention Countdown — PF Faces a Survival Test

This week’s PF drama comes as the party prepares for a critical November convention. With several senior figures facing court cases, others in exile, and grassroots structures demanding fresh leadership, the contest has become a test of survival.

If the leadership race devolves into factional war, the party risks entering 2026 fractured and fatigued. If it emerges with a single message and a unified slate, it could rebuild momentum quickly. The outcome remains uncertain.

易 Digital Surge — John Sangwa’s Growing Influence

Outside the formal party system, constitutional lawyer John Sangwa again shaped debate from the sidelines. His critique was unambiguous.

“President Hichilema cannot resolve Zambia’s challenges even if given a second term.”

Sangwa has grown into a digital-era political force, attracting younger audiences who are increasingly sceptical of traditional party hierarchies. His challenge is not relevance but machinery.

Online traction needs ground structures, coordinators, and polling-station presence. Zambia’s elections are won in compounds, markets, bus terminals and rural networks, not only through trending videos.

For now, Sangwa sits between influence and infrastructure.

 Youth Axis — Rising Generation Demands Competence

Zambia’s political space is also experiencing a generational shift. Youth engagement is intensifying, not just around personalities but around power, services and accountability. Load-shedding is not abstract. It affects schoolwork, micro-businesses, farming logistics, food preservation and digital livelihoods.

Energy failures do not only threaten growth. They create political mood swings. The younger electorate demands competence, not loyalty speeches.

吝 Where Zambia Stands

The week closes with four distinct signals. A president acknowledging policy failure. An opposition deploying the courts as a battleground. A former ruling party struggling to police its internal arena. And an outsider voice gaining emotional traction among first-time and second-time voters.

The road to 2026 will be shaped by how each camp converts rhetoric into structure and structure into votes. For now, the mood is clear. Zambia is entering the accountability phase of its democratic moment.

© The People’s Brief | Goran Handya, Ollus R. Ndomu, Mwape Nthegwa