Association
CSOs decry lack of public consultation in Constitutional Reform process
The Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025, published in the government gazette on 23rd May 2025, sought to revise several provisions of the 2016 Constitution, under the pretext of promoting stronger governance and inclusivity. It proposed increasing parliamentary constituencies from 156 to 211, introducing a mixed-member proportional representation system to enhance the participation of women, youth and persons with disabilities and aligning parliamentary and local council terms to five years. The Bill also sought to remove the two-term limit for mayors and council chairpersons, reintroduce MPs into local councils and revise rules on nominations, resignations and disqualifications of MPs. Additionally, it proposed eliminating by-elections held within 180 days of a general election and modifying qualifications for key constitutional officers such as the Attorney-General and Secretary to the Cabinet.
While the government claimed these were non-contentious technical updates, CSOs, opposition parties and legal scholars raised serious concern over the lack of broad and transparent public consultation. They warned that increasing the size of Parliament would burden taxpayers, while removing term limits at local level could entrench political elites. Critics further noted that the 2016 Constitution was still relatively new and many institutional reforms required under it remain unimplemented, and the looming general election in August 2026 created suspicion of partisan motives. Others pointed out that most citizens are preoccupied with cost-of-living pressures, massive power cuts and corruption, meaning constitutional reform was not viewed as urgent.
In response to mounting criticism, President Hakainde Hichilema met with CSOs on 24th June 2025 and agreed to defer the Bill for wider consultation. On 27th June 2025, the Constitutional Court declared the Bill unconstitutional in a landmark ruling, citing a lack of “wide public consultation” as required under Article 79 of the Constitution.
Expression
Court lifts gag order on media outlet
On 20th May 2025, Zambia’s investigative media outlet News Diggers released a trailer on Facebook for its documentary titled “Chinese Investment in Zambia: The Good, the Bad, and the Dangerous.” The trailer investigates the social, environmental, and labour impacts of Chinese investments in Zambia, highlighting incidents such as the collapse of a copper mine tailings dam controlled by Sino-Metals Ltd., sulfur dioxide emissions from Avocado Mining Ltd., and unsafe working conditions in artisanal copper mines supplying Rong Xing Investment.
The following day, the Lusaka High Court blocked the scheduled 23rd May 2025 premiere after the Chinese Chamber of Commerce filed a defamation complaint against News Diggers. On 22nd May 2025, the court issued a gag order prohibiting the documentary’s broadcast and warning that violations could result in contempt charges effectively censoring the outlet.
However, after weeks of legal proceedings, the court lifted the injunction on 18th July 2025. The court ruled that the documentary addressed issues of significant public interest and that its broadcast was protected under Zambia’s right to free expression. Following this decision, News Diggers aired the full documentary on 29th July 2025, which drew mixed reactions with the Chinese Embassy accusing it of bias, while civil society groups and DEC Director General Nason Banda praised it as an “eye-opener.” The case sparked national debate on press freedom, the accountability of foreign investors, and the rights of journalists to report on sensitive issues without fear of censorship or reprisals.
Journalist arrested and assaulted
On 25th August 2025, The Mast journalist Thandizo Banda was arrested and detained for three hours at Chowa Police Station in Kabwe while covering the detention of Maria Zaloumis, daughter of Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson, Mwangala Zaloumis, who was being held in connection with the murder of 22-year-old Enoch Simfukwe. Banda had formally identified himself to officers at the station and explained that he was performing his journalistic duties.
Despite this, several police officers and members of Zaloumis’ entourage physically assaulted him, confiscated his phone, and deleted all photographs he had taken as the ECZ Chairperson and her entourage were leaving the station. Acting under the instruction of the officer-in-charge, Martin Kaliki, police even summoned a Cyber Security Unit specialist to ensure Banda’s phone was completely wiped. He was later charged with “conduct likely to cause a breach of peace,” released after paying a fine and threatened not to report on the incident again.
The Zambian Observer emphasised that the arrest of journalists for carrying out their core duties was not merely an attack on the individual, but a threat to the public’s right to information and the democratic foundations of Zambia.