Bill 7 dangerous, stop it – ZCCB …warns that re-introducing the bill in Parliament today would signal a dangerous breakdown of the rule of law, says the bill lacks legitimacy, inclusivity, transparency

By GIDEON NYENDWA
PROCEEDING with the re-introduction of Bill 7, despite having been branded unconstitutional illegal and a threat to democracy and rejected by a wide range of stakeholders against the Constitutional court orders would not only be unfortunate but a dangerous breakdown of the rule of law in the country, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) have warned.
The Catholic Bishops across the country have charged that Bill 7 did not only lack genuine public participation but also lacked transparency and accountability, apart from raising technical and democratic concerns among citizens.
In a press statement signed by Most Rev Ignatius Chama, the Archbishop of Kasama, the president of the ZCCB, his, Rt Rev Charles Kasonde, the Bishop of Solwezi and all the Archbishops in all the provinces, the ZCCB has raised grave concerns that Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti had called for a special Parliamentary session to re-introduce Bill 7 against the will and advice from Zambians.
The ZCCB is deeply concerned that government had continued to push for Bill 7 with tightly controlled consultations by the executive coupled with limited and sporadic consultations.
“Proceeding to re-introduce before the floor of the National Assembly of Zambia the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 of 2025 without complying with the express directives of the Constitutional Court in the case of Munir Zulu and Celestine Mukandila v Attorney General (2025/CCZ/009) 2025 ZMCC 12, which directives include the requirement for Government to ensure a people driven process led by independent body experts in conducting wide consultations with the people, would represent an unfortunate but dangerous breakdown of rule of law in the country, at the instance of those charged to govern the people.
It would signal a sad departure from the sacred principle that everyone, including those governing, are subject to the law and must at all times strictly comply with pronouncements of duly constituted courts of law,” the ZCCB warned.
The ZCCB has stressed that while constitutional reform were essential for strengthening democracy, the present approach adopted by government had fallen far short of the required standards of legitimacy, inclusivity, and transparency.
The Bishops explained that the proposed provisions in Bill 7 were in fact a threat to democratic accountability, citing the removal of the term limits for mayors and council chairpersons as serious flaws in the proposed amendments.
The ZCCB argued that Bill 7 was a mirror of past failed attempts at constitutional reform, including the Mung’omba Commission and the National Constitutional Conference, which collapsed due to executive dominance and lack of inclusivity.
The statement was signed by Most Rev. Ignatius Chama, Archbishop of Kasama and ZCCB President, Rt. Rev. Charles Kasonde, Bishop of Solwezi and ZCCB Vice President, Most Rev. Dr. Alick Banda, Archbishop of Lusaka, Most Rev. Dr. Benjamin Phiri, Bishop of Ndola, Rt. Rev. George Lungu, Bishop of Chipata and Rt. Rev. Evan Chinyemba, Bishop of Mongu.
Othehrs who signed the statement included Rt. Rev. Clement Mulenga, Bishop of Kabwe, Rt. Rev. Patrick Chisanga, Bishop of Mansa, Rt. Rev. Raphael Mweempwe, Bishop of Monze, Rt. Rev. Gabriel Phiri, Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata, Rt. Rev. Valentine Kalumba, Bishop of Livingstone and Rt. Rev. Edwin Mulandu, Bishop of Mpika.
They have recommended that government should initiate a genuinely inclusive and people-driven constitutional reform process, while calling on Zambians to remain united in defending democracy.
“We exhort all Zambians to remain united as One Zambia One Nation in ensuring the steady growth of our young democracy for a better Zambia that will be a pride of future generations,” the Bishops said.