President Hakainde Hichilema on Thursday assented to Constitution Amendment No. 7 of 2025, declaring an end to the national quarrel over the reforms and urging Zambians to shift their focus to development, electricity supply and economic production.
“After signing, now that it is law, the debate is behind us,” President Hichilema said at the signing ceremony, calling for unity after months of intense and often polarising public discourse.
The President stressed that the constitutional amendments should not be viewed as a victory for any political party, individual, ethnic group or church, but as a national achievement meant to benefit all Zambians. Listing several ethnic identities, he underscored that the moment belonged to the entire country.
“It’s for the totality of Zambian citizens,” he said, cautioning against partisan interpretations of the reform.
President Hichilema also dismissed claims that dominated public debate, including allegations that Bill 7 sought to extend the presidential term to seven years, remove the 50-percent-plus-one electoral threshold or abolish the running mate clause. He described such claims as false and intended to mislead and divide the nation.
“There was nothing of that nature in this amendment,” he said.
Instead, the President said the reforms addressed largely non-contentious issues while expanding representation for historically underrepresented groups, including women, youths and persons living with disabilities. He described the amendments as inclusive and additive, not designed to take away existing democratic safeguards.
Reflecting on the heated debate, President Hichilema urged Zambians to examine how the discussion unfolded, warning against allowing disagreement to descend into hatred and enmity. Drawing on biblical teachings, he appealed for reconciliation and national healing after a divisive period.
On the legislative process, the President revealed that assent had been delayed to allow wider consultation, crediting the Mushabati Technical Committee for refining the final product. He rejected claims that the committee was illegal, stating it was lawfully constituted.
He cited by-elections as an example of compromise, noting that while he favoured removing them to reduce costs, public input persuaded him to retain them. He also highlighted the cross-party parliamentary support that saw 135 MPs vote in favour of the amendment.
Turning to development, President Hichilema argued that decentralisation would deliver better value for money, citing examples where community-managed projects cost significantly less than centrally controlled ones. He linked this to constituency delimitation and broader resource distribution.
The President closed by addressing the power crisis, blaming severe drought while outlining measures to diversify energy generation through solar and coal projects. He pointed to economic recovery, rising tourism, growing reserves and renewed emphasis on production as signs of progress.
Calling for unity and hard work, President Hichilema pledged integrity in leadership. “There will be no cheating,” he said, adding that mistakes would be corrected, not concealed.
“With unity of purpose and hard work, we will be OK,” he concluded.
Picture: President Hakainde Hichilema after signing the bill