Government Has No Intention of Amending Constitution

Cornelius Mweetwa, a Chief Government spokesperson has said that the Government has no intention to amend the Constitution.

Chapter One Foundation Executive Director Linda Kasonde has remarked that it would be dangerous to make any changes to the Constitution before the next elections are well established.

She raised concerns that it would be unwise to advocate for changes as it would offer an opportunity for politicians who want to ensure their prolonged stay in office. She said, “Our history has shown us that the executive takes control of the process for the road ends to ensure their own longevity in office, and that has been our downfall consistently [from] the time we started making Constitutions.”

In 2019, the government introduced the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, which revised multiple aspects of the country’s Constitution. For example, it revised the Preamble to emphasise the Christian character of Zambia, and it revised the electoral system for elections to the National Assembly.

Clearly, any changes to the Constitution currently do not constitute a priority for the Government.