Civil Society Continues Push Back Against Bill 10

As the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 10 returns to Parliament civil, society continues to campaign against its adoption. 

There is a lengthy list of opponents to the Bill, which has so far been rejected by opposition and independent MPs. These include Caritas Zambia, Transparency International Zambia, Alliance for Community Action, Centre for Trade Policy and Development, ActionAid, Zambia Council for Social Development, Chapter One Foundation and Operation Young Vote. 

This morning 16 radio stations across the country hosted a platform for discussing the various issues connected with the Bill, which is scheduled to come for its second reading during the current sitting of Parliament. 

Last week a joint statement released by several groups said that “since the unconstitutional 3rd term bid by 2nd Republican President, Frederick Chiluba, no national constitutional matter has garnered as much vociferous citizen voice as Bill 10 has.” 

The groups have called for the Bill’s withdrawal on the basis that citizens have not asked for the changes and out of concern that if it is adopted it will “reverse all the gains that we have made as a country on the Constitution.” 

Among the most contentious and concerning provisions in the Bill are the re-introduction of deputy ministers, the permitting of ministers to stay in office during elections and scope for interference in the appointment of judges. All of which opposition and civil society claim are designed not to benefit the citizenry, but to strengthen the PF’s grip on power ahead of elections next year.  

Opponents, from the UPND and the NDC, to the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), ActionAid and Linda Kasonde’s Chapter One, have objected to the Bill on the basis that it strengthens the existing powers of the executive and President to the detriment of Zambia’s democracy.  

The Bill also contains some worrisome provisions relating to Government’s economic and financial management, giving the President the power to contract debt without requiring parliamentary approval. This has served as another red flag ahead of elections.