By Jane Chanda
Tonse Alliance national youth chairperson Celestine Mukandila says President Hakainde Hichilema’s legal team is failing to provide sound guidance, citing the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 of 2025.
Mukandila said the ruling reflected poorly on the President’s legal team and suggested a failure on their part to provide sound legal guidance on such a critical national matter.
The Court ruled that the process was unconstitutional as it lacked adequate public consultation and was not led by an independent body of experts.
In an interview yesterday, Mukandila said the President should take decisive action by reviewing the performance of his legal advisors and ensuring future constitutional processes were guided by independent, competent experts and inclusive public engagement.
“This ruling is a clear indication that those advising the President are not doing their job diligently,” he said.
Mukandila, who is also aspiring Matero member of parliament, called on the President to consider making changes to his legal advisory personnel to ensure better guidance on constitutional matters.
His remarks come after the Constitutional Court’s recent ruling, which highlighted the importance of public consultation and independent expertise in constitution-making processes.
Last week, the Constitutional Court of Zambia delivered a ruling that declared the government’s attempt to amend the Constitution through Bill 7 as unconstitutional.
The Court found that the proposed changes violated the principles of constitutional democracy and the rule of law, stating that the procedure lacked legitimacy and failed to reflect a national consensus.
The petitioners, Munir Zulu and Mukandila, challenged the constitutional amendment process initiated by the UPND government, arguing that the Constitution was a sacred document that required transparent processes and full participation by the Zambian people.
The Court emphasised that any attempt to amend the Constitution must be consultative, people-driven, and transparent, warning against bypassing public input in matters of such national importance.
