The Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025 has controversially re-emerged on the floor of the National Assembly, despite significant opposition from various civil society groups, including the Oasis Forum and opposition political parties. First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Attractor Chisangano, informed Parliament in Lusaka that her office received a communication from the Minister of Justice, signaling the government's intention for the House to immediately resume consideration of the Bill. A Select Committee has been appointed to scrutinize the Bill without delay.

The Bill’s return comes after its deferment on June 26, 2025, in accordance with Standing Order 121(1), which permits a sponsoring member to defer or withdraw a Bill. Standing Order 122(1) stipulates that a Bill deferred for more than six months is considered withdrawn. During the deferment period, President Hakainde Hichilema established a Technical Committee to consult Zambians and draft the Constitution, a document that has since been handed over at State House. President Hichilema also engaged in dialogue with the Oasis Forum, which had initially planned protests against the Bill's enactment and sought changes alongside other pro-constitution amendment civil society organizations.

However, the government later suspended dialogue with the Oasis Forum, escalating tensions and revealing deepening disagreements over what constitutes “genuine engagement” and national consensus-building. Talks led by Attorney-General Mulilo Kabesha were intended to build upon a high-level meeting between President Hichilema and the Forum on November 28, 2025, an initiative aimed at fostering confidence and demonstrating the government's receptiveness to dissenting voices. Government officials asserted that the Oasis Forum approached the discussions with a