STAKEHOLDERS OPPOSE PROPOSAL TO EXTEND PRESIDENTIAL TERM TO SEVEN YEARS.
GOVERNANCE expert Brebner Changala has strongly opposed a proposal by former Vice President Enock Kavindele to introduce a one-off, seven-year, non renewable presidential term, arguing that the idea does not serve the national interest.
Mr. Kavindele, speaking yesterday, said a single seven-year term would help accelerate development and compel sitting presidents to act with greater urgency and decisiveness.
But speaking to RCV News in Lusaka today, Mr. Changala claimed the proposal was a political manoeuvre designed to benefit the current Head of State, rather than the country.
Mr. Changala further alleged that Mr. Kavindele’s stance reflects private discussions between him and the President.
“Mr. Kavindele, being a good friend to the President, was simply speaking on his behalf to bring out something he has wanted to do all along,” said Mr. Changala.
He questioned the timing of the proposal, insisting that Zambians have not complained about the existing two-term limit and that the constitutional framework should remain unchanged. He further called for the “liberation” of the country from what he described as calculated political schemes.
Meanwhile, Zambia Wake Up Party President Howard Kunda has also rejected the proposal, describing it as fraudulent and outside the scope of what is supposed to be reviewed in the constitution.
Mr. Kunda argued that Mr. Kavindele’s statement was merely his personal opinion and did not reflect the wishes of the Zambian people.
He insisted it was unacceptable for the government to entertain constitutional amendments barely eight months before the 2026 general elections, particularly after earlier reforms were declared null and void.
“This is why most people were against amending the constitution before the 2026 general elections,” Mr. Kunda said.
RCV
I suggest Zambia adopts an electoral system where at presidential, MP and councillorship levels, there should be equal participation of men, women and youths. For example, if a political party elects a man to be their presidential candidate, then the running mate should be a woman. The same for MP candidates and for councillorship positions. This way the need for byelections would be reduced as the running mate would assume the substantive position in case the incumbent dies or resigns. Lets try such as system in Zambia. We could even extend it to inclusion of youths and people who are differently abled. For instance if a political party elects an adult woman as a candidate, then the running mate could be a male youth etc.
Brebner Changala is a man who’s yet to learn how to think the right thoughts. Extending the presidential term from five to seven years or reducing it to four years has never been popular with Zambians. But that does not stop some people entertaining the thought. Why’s Changala losing his sleep over this and why do the media think whatever Changala is thinking or worried about should get in the news? This is an impulsive man who’s not doing any serious reading and is capable of making unrefined thoughts get into the news.