Event Summary
On 23 May 2025, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Secretary to the Cabinet, published a Government Gazette announcing its intention to amend the national Constitution by introducing the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025. The proposed amendments include significant changes to the electoral system, such as increasing the number of constituency-based seats in the National Assembly, introducing a mixed-member proportional representation system to improve inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities, and revising procedures related to by-elections and qualifications for office.
These proposed changes, introduced without prior public consultation, have raised alarm among civil society actors and legal experts, who have criticized the lack of transparency and citizen participation in the drafting process. The government’s one-sided announcement of the Constitution Amendment Bill without meaningful public consultation demonstrates a lack of transparency and accountability. This approach has the potential to erode trust, weaken legal safeguards and indicates a move away from participatory policy-making ultimately undermining inclusive, rights-based governance.
Public awareness campaigns on the Bill’s contents and possible long term consequences should be rolled out and inclusive national and provincial level dialogue forums should be facilitated to provide a platform for civil society, citizens, and policymakers to engage constructively on the Bill and the broader constitutional reform process.