By Mubanga Mubanga
The Technical Committee on constitutional amendments vice-chairperson Dr. Landilani Banda says civil society organisations who have shunned the constitution amendments submissions are entitled to do so, because Zambia is a democratic country.
And committee chairperson Christopher Mushabati said the committee had concluded the countrywide sittings.
Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka on Saturday, Dr. Banda said the nature of democracy was that some people had a choice to be or be against the constitutional amendments process.
“There is a question of civil society movements having shunned the process and others having reacted to the process. I think that one of the most important things we need to bear in mind continuously, is that we live in democracy, and the nature of democracy will mean that some people will speak against the process, others will speak in favor of the process,” Banda said.
“We have seen from the different provinces and districts that we have visited as a committee that there is a range of civil society organisations that have come and made submissions on various diverse issues.”
Mushabati said the technical committee concluded its sittings on November 13, 2025.
“As you are aware, the technical committee to consult the people and draft amendments to the constitution, was appointed by the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema on 2nd October, 2025. I am pleased to inform the nation that the technical committee on constitutional amendments has concluded countrywide public sittings,” Mushabati said.
“May l take this opportunity to thank the people of Zambia for the overwhelming response to this important national exercise by coming forward in large numbers, to make submissions during the committee’s public sittings countrywide. The national consultations which were conducted both physically and virtually, started on 27th October and ended on 13th November 2025.”
Mushabati said it was encouraging to see Zambians from all walks of life make submissions to the technical committee.
“It was encouraging to see Zambians from all walks of life, among them, traditional leaders, youths, women, persons with disabilities and freedom fighters,” Mushabati said. “Others who came forward to have their voices heard in this important national process included, civic leaders, civil society, the labour movement, business community, the church, farmers, marketeers, students, students unions and the general public.”
