STOP THE VANITY – FIX THE ECONOMY NOT THE CONSTITUTION
By Macphersson Mutale
“Our national obsession with constitutional amendments is nothing short of a tragic farce. Every administration that ascends to power suddenly develops a burning desire to tinker with the Constitution, not to strengthen its democratic foundations or protect the interests of the people, but to secure their own political survival.
For six decades, we have failed to draft and uphold a constitution that can stand the test of time. Instead, we continue to mutilate it, rendering it a fragile, unstable document that bends at the whims of politicians rather than serving as a shield for the common Zambian. A constitution is supposed to be a living document, but when it is continuously subjected to arbitrary changes, it ceases to be an instrument of stability and instead becomes a tool of political expediency.
The tragedy of our constitutionalism is that it is never the people who see flaws in it; it is always the politicians. The ongoing debate about constitutional amendments did not arise because Zambian women took to the streets demanding better representation, nor because the youth felt shut out of governance. It is a concoction of the political elite, crafted in their own imaginations to create an illusion of progressive reform while masking their true intent—self-preservation.
Consider the issue of delimitation, now suddenly at the center of our national discourse. Have we heard an outcry from chiefs, councilors, or ordinary citizens that their constituencies are too vast and unmanageable? No. Yet, politicians are desperate to push this agenda, not out of a genuine concern for effective representation, but because more constituencies mean more parliamentary seats, and more seats mean greater control over legislative decisions. While delimitation is provided for in the Constitution, it is not a mandate that must be fulfilled at every interval. We cannot continuously shrink constituencies at the expense of national development.
The more urgent question we must ask is: why has President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration suddenly become fixated on constitutional amendments rather than the economy, which was the cornerstone of his campaign promises? Will proportional representation miraculously cure the deeply rooted systemic issues that discourage women and youth from participating in politics?
Why have we failed to implement the existing constitutional provisions that allow for the appointment of marginalized groups to leadership positions? The President already has the power to appoint competent women, youths, and differently-abled individuals to government positions—what prevents him from doing so now? What magical new pool of candidates does he think will emerge after amending the Constitution?
Africa’s greatest weakness is its obsession with theoretical solutions while failing to implement practical reforms. The world’s most thriving economies do not waste time amending their constitutions every election cycle. Their focus is on leadership and governance, on policies that spur economic growth, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for citizens.
Our problem is not the Constitution—it is the people we entrust with power. We have individuals occupying high offices who lack both the competence and the preparedness to lead. How many times will we rewrite the Constitution before we lift our people out of poverty? In a country where the middle class is vanishing and the cost of living is unbearable, why are we diverting resources to political vanity projects?
The truth is, these constitutional amendments are about political control. Politicians want to manipulate the system to insulate themselves from public accountability. With increased parliamentary numbers and a reconfigured electoral process, they can consolidate power and govern without fear of opposition. President Hichilema was elected on a promise to fix the economy, not the Constitution. Why has his administration’s priority shifted? Is this not the same man who, in opposition, fiercely opposed constitutional amendments led by politicians? Now that he is in power, he sings a different tune. Should we then conclude that all politicians are the same?
The President has watched as his ministers and top government officials engaged in single-sourcing scandals, such as the dubious allocation of fuel contracts to one company for personal kickbacks. To date, not a single person has been held accountable. This, and not constitutional amendments, should be the President’s top priority. Corruption, economic stagnation, and the collapsing private sector are the real crises. Delimitation and proportional representation are distractions from these fundamental failures.
And let us be clear: these issues can be addressed without touching the Constitution. If constituencies are too large, the government can double the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and increase administrative capacity. If women, youths, and differently-abled people are underrepresented, the UPND can lead by example by adopting more candidates from these groups in the next election. The Constitution is not the problem—politicians who refuse to act in good faith are.
The by-election crisis we face today is a direct result of political greed. If politicians were not so self-serving, there would be no need to manipulate the system to create vacancies that allow them to expand their numbers in Parliament. The UPND is walking the same path as the MMD and the PF before them. The cycle remains unchanged. Since 1991, which constitutional amendment has meaningfully transformed the lives of ordinary Zambians? Has any of them eradicated poverty? Has any of them reduced inequality? Has any of them created a better Zambia?
If the government is truly interested in constitutional reform that benefits the people, then let them begin with economic rights. Let us hold a referendum to enshrine the right to education, healthcare, employment, and social security in the Constitution. If we are serious about making life better for Zambians, let us start here. But the reason politicians shy away from such meaningful reforms is that they do not serve their immediate interests. They would rather pursue politically expedient amendments that consolidate their power, knowing full well that economic rights would place an obligation on them to deliver real change.
This government, like those before it, is proving to be driven by selfish ambition. At a time when Zambians are sinking deeper into economic despair, when businesses are struggling to survive, and when the cost of living has become unbearable, our leaders are consumed by how to reconfigure the political system instead of fixing the economy. President Hichilema has the power to resolve the issues he claims require constitutional amendments. He can double CDF allocations. He can appoint marginalized groups to leadership positions. He can implement policies that make economic participation easier for the youth and women. None of these require rewriting the Constitution.
Zambians did not vote for a government that would waste time and resources on politically motivated agendas. We voted for economic progress, lower taxes, better business opportunities, and a functioning power supply. This administration is chasing vanities while the people suffer. The priorities must change, and they must change now.”