Zambia's Election Fury: Bishops Condemn Bill 7, NGOs Fight K5M Nomination Fee Ahead of 2026 Polls!

Zambia is currently experiencing significant public discourse surrounding critical aspects of its democratic governance, primarily the constitution amendment process and proposed changes to electoral nomination fees. Archbishop Chama has been a prominent voice, unequivocally insisting that the people, rather than the government, must drive the constitution amendment process. He highlighted the Catholic Bishops' consistent opposition to the government's initial attempts to push Bill 7 of 2025 through Parliament without adequate public consultation. Despite a Constitutional Court ruling and a presidential assurance to abandon Bill 7, it was later heard in the National Assembly that the bill was not defunct but would be resurrected, leading to further pastoral letters from the Bishops urging Members of Parliament to heed the public's voice.
Archbishop Chama welcomed the subsequent appointment by the President of a Technical Committee tasked with drafting constitution amendments through wide public consultation, acknowledging this as the appropriate initial approach. However, he expressed significant reservations regarding the committee's mandate and timeline, particularly its ability to conduct comprehensive nationwide consultations and allow ample time for public expression before the 2026 general elections. Concerns were also raised about the financial resources for the committee, questioning if they were allocated in the 2025 national budget, especially given the existing issue of unpaid farmers. The Archbishop emphasized that rushing the process before the 2026 elections, seemingly to enact Bill 7, risks producing a constitution that reflects governmental desires rather than the aspirations of the Zambian people. He called for God's guidance, urging truthfulness in serving the populace and cautioning against hasty changes that could lead to a cycle of constitutional revisions with every change of government.
Concurrently, the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has voiced strong opposition to remarks by National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) Chairperson Noel Nkhoma, who proposed increasing the Presidential nomination fee to K5 million. NGOCC Acting Executive Director, Florence Mende-Lufunsa, underscored that elections are fundamental to Zambia's constitutional democracy, serving as a vital mechanism for eligible citizens from all backgrounds to participate in determining the nation’s trajectory. She stressed that inclusivity is paramount in electoral processes, fostering civil and political rights and enhancing election legitimacy. Lufunsa argued that Nkhoma’s proposal is inherently exclusionary and retrogressive, designed to disadvantage marginalized groups, including women and persons with disabilities, from contesting the Presidency.
Furthermore, Lufunsa warned that exorbitant nomination fees could compromise the integrity of elected leaders, rendering them vulnerable to corruption and state capture. Consequently, the NGOCC strongly urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to reject the proposed K5 million increment, deeming the
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