Proposed Amendments a testament to HH’s selfless leadership-Bwalya
And Mr. Bwalya has also condemned opposition parties for spreading falsehoods, particularly claims that the amendments are aimed at extending the President’s term of office.
Mr. Bwalya has argued that the proposed amendments have effectively dispelled the opposition's accusations, stating that the President has consistently demonstrated a genuine commitment to constitutional reform.
He has pointed out that, unlike previous attempts by the Patriotic Front (PF) to amend the constitution, the current proposals are transparent and open for public scrutiny.
"The Zambian people can now clearly see that President Hichilema has the country's best interests at heart when he called for these constitutional amendments," said Mr. Bwalya said. "These amendments are not a secretive maneuver, and they are not about increasing the President's term of office."
Reflecting on past constitutional reform attempts, Mr. Bwalya recalled the PF’s proposed Bill 10 before the 2021 elections, which was met with widespread opposition once it became clear that the bill included clauses that had not been discussed in earlier consultations.
"At that time, there was no room for further consensus-building," Bwalya said, "but now, with these proposed amendments, there is an opportunity for all stakeholders to engage and ensure that any necessary changes are made transparently."
He has emphasized that the proposed amendments, as presented by Minister of Justice Princess Kasune in Parliament, are not a finalized bill, but rather areas for potential change that the government is putting forward for further discussion.
Mr. Bwalya has called on politicians, church leaders, and civil society groups to thoroughly examine the proposed clauses and continue the dialogue to build consensus.
"This is the time to identify who truly has the nation's interests at heart and who does not," he said. "President Hichilema has shown his commitment to the Zambian people by supporting amendments that a selfish politician would not back."
Mr. Bwalya has also refuted claims that the proposed changes would alter the Presidential term, pointing out that these allegations were part of a deliberate attempt to tarnish President Hichilema's reputation.
He has urged the opposition, churches, and civil society to stop shifting the goalposts and focus on the clauses that have been clearly outlined by the government.
One of the key areas of discussion is the delimitation process, which Mr. Bwalya has explained has already been addressed in the constitution.
He has pointed out that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) should evaluate constituency dynamics every ten years, based on population and geographic size, to ensure that constituencies remain manageable.
"Some are trying to create the impression that it is President Hichilema or the UPND pushing for the division of constituencies, but this is not the case," Mr. Bwalya said. "The ECZ is responsible for evaluating and recommending changes based on the needs of the people. No citizen should oppose the division of constituencies if they are too large to effectively represent."
On the issue of ministers vacating their offices 90 days before elections, Mr. Bwalya has underscored that this provision is a sign of President Hichilema's commitment to a fair and transparent electoral process.
He said that if the President were truly self-serving, he would not have supported this clause, which aims to prevent ministers from holding on to their positions until just before elections.
Mr. Bwalya has also responded to criticism of a proposed clause that would increase the number of parliamentary seats nominated by the President.
He has dismissed these concerns as misguided and asserted that the proposed changes were designed to improve the democratic process, not undermine it.
As the debate over the constitutional amendments continues, Mr. Bwalya has urged all stakeholders to remain focused on the substance of the proposals rather than engaging in unsubstantiated claims or distractions.
"The focus should now be on the clauses that have been presented," he said, "so that we can guide the people of Zambia towards a more progressive and transparent constitution."
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