Bill 7: A Reform Without a Soul

By Chali Mulenga

As the debate around Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 intensifies, one thing has become unmistakably clear: 

Zambia is facing not merely a legislative dispute but a constitutional crisis rooted in mistrust, opacity and political overreach. 

Bill 7 has been marketed as a sweeping modernisation of our governance system is promising improved representation, inclusivity and electoral clarity. 

Yet, beneath the surface, the Bill reveals deep gaps that threaten both constitutionalism and democratic stability.

A Flawed Process From the Start

No constitutional amendment can stand on a broken foundation. The Constitutional Court’s declaration that Bill 7 is a nullity should have halted the process entirely. 

Instead, the Bill is being revived and repackaged, ignoring the Court’s directive that wide public consultation is mandatory are not optional.

 The opacity surrounding the so-called “Technical Committee,” whose reports remain unpublished, only worsens public suspicion. Constitutional reform demands transparency; secrecy is a red flag.

For a country that has long struggled with mistrust in public institutions, pushing ahead in defiance of judicial guidance undermines the rule of law at its core.

 Power Concentration Masquerading as Representation

Supporters of Bill 7 tout expanded constituencies, proportional representation, and reserved seats as victories for inclusion. 

On paper, these appear progressive. But the devil lies in the design. By increasing nominated seats and allowing political parties to fill vacancies without by-elections, the Bill shifts control away from voters and towards party elites.

Instead of empowering citizens, the proposed structure risks entrenching the ruling party’s influence, weakening checks and balances, and centralising power under the executive.

 A parliament enlarged but politically weakened serves no one except the powerful.

 No Roadmap, No Models, No Trust

Electoral reforms must be technically clear and publicly scrutinised. Bill 7 offers neither. 

The lack of a published delimitation report, unclear formulas for proportional representation, and unexplained criteria for reserved seats all signal that citizens are being asked to trust a process that refuses to trust them back.

If the goal was truly inclusivity, the framers of Bill 7 would have engaged the voters most impacted such as youth, women, and persons with disabilities. 

Instead, decisions are happening behind closed doors, and the public is presented with outcomes rather than participation.

 Missed Opportunities in a Critical Moment

Zambia desperately needs comprehensive constitutional reform. We need stronger protections for economic and social rights, reinforcement of judicial independence, stronger local governments, and guardrails against executive overreach. 

Yet Bill 7 focuses almost exclusively on redistributing political seats is essentially rearranging the political furniture while leaving the structural cracks untouched.

The result is a reform without a soul. It claims to modernise, but it does not democratise.

Timing That Raises More Questions Than Answers

Introducing major constitutional changes less than a year before the 2026 general elections is not a coincidence, it is a strategy. 

Rushed reforms close to an election cycle tend to benefit those already in power. 

And without a clear implementation roadmap, the possibility of manipulation, whether through delimitation, vacancy-filling rules, or representation formulas, cannot be dismissed.

For a nation still healing from electoral tensions, this timing risks sowing further distrust.

What Zambia Needs Now

Zambia needs constitutional reform that strengthens institutions, protects rights, enhances transparency, and builds trust, not reforms that deepen political divides. 

Bill 7 could have been a milestone. Instead, it has become a symbol of caution: a reminder that reform without legitimacy is simply political engineering.

If constitutional changes are to stand the test of time, they must be owned by the people, not merely drafted for them.

Author is executive director of Building Bridges for Change Foundation

Man Found Dead in Simwizi Village After Suicide Threats, Police Confirm

A 41-year-old man from Simwizi village in Chief Mukuni’s area of Kazungula District has been found dead in what police suspect to be a case of suicide, following earlier threats to take his own life due to debt.

Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Auxensio Daka confirmed in a statement that the deceased, identified as Emmanuel Siamutema, was discovered on the morning of 31 May 2025, lying motionless behind an unfinished building in the village.

Mr Daka said the matter was initially reported to Libuyu Police Station at 09:00 hours by Joseph Simasiku, 59, also of Simwizi village, who found the body between 04:30 and 05:30 hours.

According to Mr Daka, the deceased’s wife, Nasilele Kupota, 34, previously intercepted him with a bottle of Doom insecticide on 22 May around 20:00 hours. 

“When confronted, he told her he wanted to commit suicide because he owed someone a lot of money, which he could not pay back,” Mr Daka said.

 He added that the wife took the insecticide from him and disposed of it in a pit latrine.

Mr Daka further stated that on the evening of 30 May, Siamutema left his home and spent the night at the residence of Festo Sichimwa. 

“He told Mr Sichimwa that he was avoiding officials from the Local Court who intended to serve him with court summons over a land dispute,” Mr Daka said.

 “He also expressed his intention to end his life due to the financial pressure.”

Siamutema reportedly left Sichimwa’s house at around 04:30 hours the following morning, saying he was going home to check on his family. 

His body was discovered about two hours later by the village headman, Francis Simasiku, who informed the family and reported the matter to the police.

Mr Daka said police officers who visited the scene found the deceased lying on his back with mucus coming from his nose, but with no visible injuries. 

“It is suspected that he may have ingested a poisonous substance,” he said, citing the deceased’s prior suicidal behaviour.

The body was transported to Batoka Hospital mortuary and is awaiting a post-mortem examination. An inquiry file has been opened and no foul play is suspected at this stage, Mr Daka confirmed.

Farmers Protest Land Use Change After Key Access Road Blocked in Livingstone’s Kasiya Resettlement Area

 CHALI MULENGA

Livingstone

Farmers in the Kasiya Resettlement area have raised alarm over the closure of a key access road following a controversial land use change approved by the local council.

The affected farmers, led by Mr. Kantu Kantu, have accused the Livingstone City Council of disregarding due process and failing to consult stakeholders before authorizing the development.

Speaking to journalists on-site, Kantu, a long-time resident and farmer in Sehena Tevere, expressed concern over the closure of the road which connects the farming community to the main Livingstone–Lusaka Road. The road services over 500 farmers, as well as schools and public facilities within the resettlement scheme.

“The road has been blocked because a private developer was granted permission to change the land use from agriculture to mixed-use,” said Kantu. “We were not consulted. When we found out, we followed procedure and petitioned the council. But instead of addressing our concerns, surveyors showed up and closed the road.”

The disputed land was reportedly part of the degazetted Dambwa Forest, which included Zambia Railways land. Kantu claims that there is no record showing the land was officially transferred to the council, raising questions about the legality of the allocation.

“The council cannot allocate land that doesn’t belong to them,” Kantu stated. “Zambia Railways representatives came to investigate and confirmed they had not transferred ownership.”

Residents are particularly aggrieved that public funds under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) were used to grade and improve the access road, only for it to be blocked off by the developer. “Taxpayer money was spent on this road. Now it’s marked as private property and we are not allowed through,” Kantu lamented.

He also alleged that the council failed to conduct a mandatory site visit before approving the land use change and ignored historical data that shows the road existed as early as 1958 and was used by Zambia Railways to access their railway lines.

“The council has failed us. We followed the law, submitted our objections in writing, but they never responded. We want the government to come down to the ground and see how we are suffering. There is no alternative route provided for us to reach our farms or the main road,” he said.

The farmers have vowed to continue peaceful engagement with authorities but are calling on higher government offices to intervene urgently to prevent disruption of agricultural activities in the area.

Efforts to get a comment from the Livingstone City Council were unsuccessful by press time.

A farmer of Natebe area has expressed deep disappointment over the abrupt closure of a public access road leading to his farmland, saying the decision was made without consultation and threatens his livelihood.

Alfred Siamuntu, who holds a valid 99-year lease on Plot Number 16 in Natebe—issued on March 1, 2012—says he was shocked to learn that the road, developed using Constituency Development Fund (CDF) resources, has been closed off without due process.

“I have paid all my legal fees and have a valid title deed. It is frustrating that such a key access route to my land can be blocked without my knowledge or input,” Siamuntu told reporters during a site visit.

He noted with concern that the road closure appears to be linked to the Zambia Railways land corridor, raising questions about how the local council could allocate land within such an area without proper coordination or public engagement.

“I was never consulted, and now I’m left wondering how a road funded through public resources like the CDF can just be shut down without proper consultation or explanation,” he said.

Siamuntu has now appealed for presidential intervention, stating that the situation calls for high-level attention to safeguard the rights of legally settled landowners and ensure fair access to public infrastructure.

“The President needs to intervene. This is about fairness, proper land governance, and ensuring that farmers like me can continue to work without unnecessary obstacles,” he added.

As the matter unfolds, other affected residents in Natebe have also begun voicing concerns, calling on the Ministry of Local Government and relevant authorities to clarify the status of the road and land in question.

Local authorities were not immediately available for comment at the time of publication.

A land allocation controversy in Kasiya Ward, Livingstone, has sparked outrage among local farmers, who fear being cut off from their farms due to the blocking of a critical access road by a private developer. Ward Councillor Sidney Mwamba has called on the Livingstone City Council to urgently intervene and revise the land plan to protect the livelihoods of more than 500 affected farmers.

Speaking during a site visit, Councillor Mwamba described the situation as “very sad” and “unfortunate,” revealing that the issue dates back nearly two years and that community complaints have largely been ignored.

“This is an access road to the clinic, the school, and to the farms,” Mwamba said. “How do you close a road without providing an alternative? The council is making decisions without consulting the people who are most affected.”

Mwamba disclosed that he was not informed when land in his ward was allocated to private developers, including land along the Zambia Railways reserve area and another stretch reportedly given to ZESCO employees. He emphasized that the community, including himself as an elected official, had been left out of the process.

“I was only told after surveyors were already on the ground placing beacons. No one consulted me, not even a courtesy call,” he said. “Now the community thinks I am part of this illegality.”

Farmers in the area have submitted petitions and written letters to the council, opposing the development, but their concerns remain unresolved. Mwamba confirmed he has copies of the letters and has personally raised the issue with council authorities, but said no meaningful action has been taken.

“This road is the lifeline for our farmers. Blocking it off will create serious tensions. I fear this might escalate into conflict between the developer and the local community,” he warned. “We don’t want people to take the law into their own hands.”

The councillor appealed to the Livingstone City Council, especially the town clerk, to urgently replan the land and preserve the road.

“Let’s do the right thing for our people. Leave the road. Whatever plans are in place, they must not come at the expense of community livelihoods and access to essential services.”

Farmers in Kasiya Ward say they will continue pushing for a resolution, but fear that their pleas may once again fall on deaf ears.

The Livingstone City Council has responded to concerns raised by farmers in Kasiya, clarifying that the disputed land is under legal title and urging farmers to use the designated access road created by the local authority.

Farmers in the area have petitioned the council, opposing a private developer’s activities on land they claim belongs to the community. Despite the protest, the council has confirmed that the developer holds legal title to the property and followed due process in obtaining approval for change of land use.

“Kasiya is an unplanned settlement and also a farm block, so it’s expected to find farming activity there,” said Council Public Relations Manager Melvin Mukela. “But the land in question is legally owned, and the developer has the right to determine how it is used.”

Mr. Mukela explained that while there were informal footpaths used by farmers, these passed through private land. To address the access challenge, the council, using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), created a formal road to serve nearby facilities such as the Kasiya Clinic and Natebe Dam.

“That road was agreed upon in consultation with the landowner and was created to serve the community without infringing on private property,” he said. “The farmers are free to use this road, but they should not create new paths across someone’s titled land.”

He emphasized that the beaconing of the land by the developer was within his rights and was done to protect the property. However, this action did not block the access road agreed upon and constructed by the council.

“As a local authority, we are currently working on replanning all unplanned settlements, including Kasiya, to avoid future disputes and ensure orderly development,” Mr. Mukela added.

The council has urged farmers to refrain from encroaching on private land and instead use the designated road to access their plots.
 

Chali Mulenga

  Journalist, Blogger, Media consultant.

 

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Livingstone Mayor Calls for End to Period Shame at Menstrual Hygiene Day Commemoration

CHALI MULENGA

Livingstone

Livingstone Mayor Constance Muleabai has called for an end to period shame, urging communities to unite in creating a period-friendly world.

Speaking during the Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025 commemorations at Mwandi Community School, held under the theme “Together for a Period-Friendly World.”

Ms Muleabai challenged menstrual stigma and encouraged girls to embrace their menstrual cycles with confidence.

“We should not feel ashamed to be girls. Men will stop attacking us if we start being proud of our periods,” she said, addressing pupils, teachers, and advocates from the Pad-A-Girl Campaign, which organised the event.

Ms Muleabai said there was a need for women and girls to pay attention to their menstrual health and manage their periods with dignity and preparedness.

The commemoration included the distribution of sanitary pads to pupils, alongside a campaign to promote menstrual health education and tackle period poverty.

Praising the Pad-A-Girl Campaign for its work in empowering girls through access to hygiene products, Ms Muleabai said:

“Schools like Mwandi must be safe spaces where girls are supported, not sidelined. Too many still miss class each month due to lack of pads. This must change.”

She urged girls to track their cycles and seek support when needed.

 “Be aware of your body and prepare. Menstrual health is your right, not a privilege,” she said.

Ms Muleabai also pledged to expand access to menstrual products in public institutions and called on parents and communities to play an active and supportive role.

“Let parents support their daughters, and God will bless you. We must all stand together,” she said.

Pad-A-Girl Campaign director Estrol Meleki, of the Estrol Meleki Foundation, also he reaffirmed the initiative’s commitment to menstrual dignity.

“Real change starts at the grassroots—in schools and communities like ours. No girl should miss school or suffer in silence because of menstruation,” he said.   

He praised the mayor’s attendance as a signal of leadership’s role in advancing menstrual equity.

 “Your worship, your presence sends a powerful message that no girl should be left behind due to her period,” he said.

Mr Meleki stressed that breaking taboos around menstruation requires collaboration among government, civil society, and communities.

He acknowledged that significant challenges persist, particularly in rural areas, where access to hygiene products remains limited and cultural stigma endures.

 

“To the girls of Mwandi Community School—your dreams are valid. Menstruation is not a limitation; it is a sign of strength,” he said.

He called on the need to normalise conversations about menstruation and to invest in sustainable menstrual health solutions.

“Together, we can—and we will—build a period-friendly world,” he said.

The Pad-A-Girl Campaign continues to distribute sanitary products, run awareness programmes, and advocate for menstrual equity across underserved schools and communities in Zambia.

 End 

a 41 year old arrested for beating 5 year old

 

CHALI MULENGA 

Livingstone 

 Police in Choma have arrested a 41-year-old woman for allegedly assaulting her 5-year-old niece, leaving the child with swollen legs and severe bruises along her back.

Southern Province Commanding Officer Auxensio Daka said the incident was reported on April 24 by a concerned resident of Shampande township.

He confirmed the incidence which happened in Choma. 

He said the abuse, which is believed to have taken place between January and April 2025, allegedly involved repeated beatings using a stick.

Mr Daka said the suspect, identified as Scentia Hanchancha of Shampande B township.

He said the suspect told police that the beatings were punishment for the child frequently soiling her clothes. 

He said the young girl is now in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare, as authorities have not yet located any close relatives to take her in.

Mr Daka said the police have opened a case docket and issued a medical report form for the victim. 

He said Hanchancha was apprehended shortly after the report and is currently in police custody.

Mr Daka said she is expected to appear in court soon to face charges related to child assault.

He called on members of the public to report any suspected cases of child abuse in their communities.

End 

Be a KK”: Joseph Moyo’s Passionate Plea on Zambia’s Founding Father’s Day

Chali Mulenga*  

Livingstone

 Zambia celebrates Founding Father’s Day, also known as KK Day, one voice has risen sharply above the rest, urging Zambians to reflect not just on history — but on conscience.

Joseph Moyo, a respected human rights defender and vocal citizen advocate, has called on Zambians to use this public holiday not for recreation or routine political platitudes, but for deep introspection and renewed commitment to national service, integrity, and humility — the very principles embodied by Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda, the country’s founding president.

“We must stop romanticizing the past and start embodying it,” Mr Moyo said in a statement issued from Livingstone. 

“To honor KK is to live like KK. 

That means rejecting corruption, serving with humility, and placing the people above personal gain.”

KK Day, observed on April 28, commemorates Dr. Kaunda’s legacy as Zambia’s independence leader and first president. 

The day often sees government-organized memorials, speeches, and cultural events across the country. But Moyo fears the deeper meaning is being lost.

 “We’ve turned it into another holiday — beach trips, BBQs, shopping sales,” Mr Moyo said.

 “But KK never lived for those things. He lived for us — for the people. So the real way to honor him is to ask: Would KK approve of the Zambia we’ve built today?”

He drew a contrast between Kaunda’s selfless leadership and what he described as the growing “entitlement culture” among many of today’s political leaders and civil servants.

Mr Moyo recounted how Kaunda, even after leaving office in 1991, lived modestly, remained accessible to ordinary Zambians, and was never implicated in corruption. 

He relied on public health services, lived in a humble residence, and turned down opportunities for personal enrichment.

 “KK did not steal from the nation. He did not enrich himself. He did not accumulate properties. And when he left power, he didn’t cry foul or incite division — he stepped aside with grace,” Moyo said. “We don’t see that anymore.”

He emphasized that Dr. Kaunda was offered a house in Malawi after his presidency but turned it down, later accepting one built for him by an ordinary Zambian based in England.

 “That alone should teach us everything we need to know about his character.”

Without naming names, Mr Moyo took a swipe at the current political class, accusing them of distorting democracy into a transactional affair where power is sought not to serve but to enrich.

“It is now common to see politicians with fleets of luxury vehicles and mansions barely months after getting elected,” he said.

 “They prioritize tenders and kickbacks over classrooms and clinics. That is not KK’s Zambia.”

He warned that such behavior risks undoing the hard-won unity and moral foundation Kaunda laid.

“KK believed in One Zambia, One Nation — and he practiced it. Today, we are fracturing along tribal, economic, and political lines for short-term gain.”

Mr Moyo’s message was not just directed at politicians. 

He urged every Zambian — from civil servants to business leaders, students to faith leaders — to embody the KK spirit.

“You don’t have to be president to be a KK.

 If you run a market stall and treat customers fairly, you are being a KK. If you refuse to take a bribe, you are being a KK. 

If you speak up for justice and dignity, you are being a KK.”

He encouraged youth to learn more about Kaunda’s life — not just as a political leader but as a philosopher, a Pan-Africanist, and a humanitarian who valued love and peace above power and wealth.

“Dr. Kaunda led this country with a white handkerchief, a Bible, and a guitar — not with a whip or a gun. He used his heart. So let KK Day remind us to lead with love.”

Mr Moyo challenged leaders to mark KK Day not with elaborate speeches but with policy and personal action: 

helping the poor, fighting corruption, improving public services, and building a Zambia that would make KK proud.

“Today, I ask all of us — are we worthy of KK’s legacy? Or are we just clapping in his memory while betraying everything he stood for?”

He left Zambians with a resonant parting shot:

 “Don’t just say happy KK Day. Live it. Be it. Be a KK.”  End

From Park to Pavement: Climate and Encroachment Drive Elephants Into Livingstone

CHALI MULENGA
Livingstone

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) has raised growing concern over the escalating human-wildlife conflict in Livingstone, fuelled by urban encroachment, climate change, and the unique layout of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.

Gertrude Mutale, Regional Extension Officer under the Community-Based Natural Resources Management Unit at DNPW, outlined these challenges during a community engagement session, calling for greater public awareness and cooperation.

Ms Mutale explained that Mosi-oa-Tunya, Zambia’s second smallest national park at just 6 square kilometres, lacks a Game Management Area (GMA)—a designated buffer zone to enable coexistence between wildlife and humans.

“Unlike larger parks such as Kafue, which is surrounded by eight GMAs, Mosi-oa-Tunya is exposed. This absence greatly contributes to the frequency of wildlife straying into human settlements,” she said.

She added that illegal settlements have emerged along the park’s border, further worsening the situation. Communities like Nakatindi and Kashitu lie dangerously close, placing residents directly in the path of wildlife, particularly elephants.

“These elephants don’t just damage crops; they destroy property, kill livestock, and, tragically, have claimed human lives,” Ms Mutale said. She noted that elephants are now being sighted in unexpected areas, including the city centre, Highlands, and along Airport Road.

Climate change has compounded the problem, she added. During the dry season, food becomes scarce in the park, forcing elephants to forage in residential areas.

“They look for mangoes, maize, and any available vegetation. This makes encounters inevitable—and often dangerous.”

Despite these risks, Ms Mutale stressed the importance of wildlife conservation.

“Conservation isn’t only about preserving animals for tourism. It’s about safeguarding a national resource that contributes significantly to Zambia’s economy. Revenue from tourism supports infrastructure, healthcare, education, and community development.”

She said the DNPW is actively addressing the conflict through strategic interventions and continued community engagement.

Meanwhile, the Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) has pledged support for legal reforms to address the growing tensions between communities and wildlife in Livingstone and surrounding areas.

ZLDC Director Hope Chanda revealed that the Wildlife Act is under review and affirmed the commission’s active role in ensuring it reflects the realities on the ground.

“How do councils allocate land? Should the Wildlife Authority have a say in this process, particularly in conflict-prone zones? What legal options should exist when people lose crops, livestock—or lives? These are questions we must urgently address,” she said.

Ms Chanda emphasised the need for communities to benefit from surrounding land and wildlife without compromising environmental sustainability. She also underscored the urgency of preserving biodiversity for future generations.

“We want our children in 2030 to see elephants in the wild—not just in photographs. They should walk among trees and grasslands that bring rain, not just remember them.”

Environmentalist Benjamin Mibenge also urged residents and institutions in Livingstone to rethink their relationship with nature, especially its smallest and often overlooked creatures.

He reminded the public that every Friday is set aside for cleaning in Livingstone, with the last Friday of each month dedicated to joint community efforts led by various institutions.

“When you burn litter in your yard, you don’t realise how much wildlife you’re destroying,” he said. “We often think of elephants and lions when we mention wildlife, but the small creatures are just as vital.”

He highlighted ants, bees, snakes, frogs, and even house lizards as unsung heroes of the ecosystem.

“Ants decompose particles, enriching the soil for grass to grow—grass that elephants need. Bees pollinate plants, helping trees and crops thrive. Snakes regulate rat and frog populations.”

Mibenge lamented the decline in frog populations in Livingstone, particularly during the once-vibrant months of September and October, as a troubling sign of environmental imbalance.

He also raised concerns about poorly planned residential areas, where pit latrines are located too close to boreholes. “In sandy soil, contamination spreads quickly,” he warned. “It’s unsafe.”