Bill 10 Billboards Attract Criticism

A number of billboards promoting the divisive Bill 10 have gone up across the country in recent days.

While much of civil society has campaigned against the bill on the basis that it strengthens the existing powers of the executive and President to the detriment of Zambia’s democracy, the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has thrown its weight behind the legislation and is now seeking to sensitise people to the Bill. The group have stressed the importance of the Bill in reaffirming Zambia’s status as a Christian nation.

Those who have opposed the Bill include the Law Association of Zambia, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops, ActionAid, Chapter One and the Alliance for Community Action (ACA).

Some critics also claim that the PF are eager to pass the Bill in order to try and prevent a legal challenge to President Lungu’s nomination for the 2021 elections.

Commenting on the billboards ACA director and activist Laura Miti stated, “With so much hunger and poverty there is money to erect such an expensive billboard to convince citizens to support a constitutional amendment. My goodness, it is impossible to overstate how desperately EL wants Bill 10 to pass. Question, dear Zambians, is why?

“We have had multiple versions of Bill 10 argued as “it” to the public. Grant it to government, they have given passing the democracy killing Bill 10 their all. Imagine if this kind of effort had been put to improving education, health or indeed the constitution,” she continued.

Popular musician Pilato has also commented on the new billboards posting a photo to social media with the caption, “Is the parliamentary BILL 10 for sale now? If you doubted this Bill was evil, this alone should remove that doubt.”