Finally, A Debate on Substance: Opposition Engages on Bill 7's Merits - Editorial

Open Zambia Editorial

Something important has shifted in Zambia's constitutional debate. For weeks, discussions around Bill 7 have centered on process, procedure, and symbolic gestures. Opposition leaders condemned the proposed amendments in sweeping terms without identifying which specific provisions posed the threats they described. That appears to be changing, and Open Zambia welcomes it. As an organization committed to constructive dialogue and substantive debate on matters of national importance, we believe this shift toward engaging with the actual content of the bill represents genuine progress.

State House's challenge to opposition leaders—to point out even one clause in Bill 7 that endangers democracy—has had its intended effect. Rather than retreating into vague denunciations, opposition figures are now engaging with the actual content of the bill. Detailed open letters with clause-by-clause objections have been published. Opposition MPs have announced they will outline their positions on specific provisions in the coming days. Active engagement on social media has documented visits to civil society organizations to discuss substantive concerns about the legislation.

This represents genuine progress. For the first time, we are having the debate Zambia needs: not about who delivered what letter where, but about the merits of specific constitutional changes. We commend every opposition figure willing to engage on this basis. Democracy thrives when leaders debate substance rather than spectacle.

The opposition's critique focuses on what they call an "autocratic architecture"—claiming that provisions on by-elections, presidential dissolution powers, and nominated MPs combine to weaken Parliament's ability to check executive power. They argue that reserved seats for women, youth, and persons with disabilities amount to "elite-managed inclusion" that serves as cover for consolidating presidential authority. They question the fiscal logic of abolishing by-elections to save money while adding 55 new MPs.

Interestingly, even critics acknowledge that Bill 7 contains beneficial provisions. OASIS Forum Chairperson Beauty Katebe has stated that there are a lot of good things in Bill 7, though she maintains the constitutional amendment process is flawed. This acknowledgment is important—it suggests the debate should focus on distinguishing between substance and process, between problematic clauses and sound reforms.

On the mixed-member proportional representation system that guarantees spaces for marginalized groups, it would be helpful to understand what alternative mechanism the opposition would propose to achieve similar inclusion. This would allow Zambians to compare approaches rather than simply choosing between Bill 7 and the status quo.

Regarding concerns about abolishing by-elections for party-held seats, it's worth noting that many established democracies employ similar systems. Understanding how those democracies maintain checks on executive power could inform our assessment of whether Bill 7's specific formulation contains adequate safeguards for Zambia's context.

On the question of expanding Parliament from 156 to 211 constituency seats based on the Electoral Commission's delimitation report, it would be valuable to hear whether the opposition's concern is primarily about cost or about the principle of representation for growing populations. Separating these issues could lead to more productive solutions.

Perhaps most importantly, if Bill 7 contains genuinely problematic provisions alongside beneficial ones, it would help Zambians to know which parts the opposition believes should be preserved and which should be revised or removed. This kind of specificity would move the conversation from wholesale rejection toward constructive amendment.

State House posed direct questions: Do opponents reject delimitation provisions that strengthen fair representation? Do they oppose guaranteed parliamentary spaces for women, youth, and persons with disabilities? The opposition's attempt to answer "we support inclusion but not this inclusion" rings hollow without a concrete alternative.

If opposition leaders provide the comprehensive, constructive critique they claim to have developed, this debate will advance significantly. But critique without alternatives, condemnation without solutions, and opposition without proposals ultimately serve neither democracy nor the Zambian people.

We praise those willing to engage clause-by-clause with Bill 7's provisions. Now we challenge them to go further: show us your better vision. The Constitution belongs to all Zambians, and we deserve to see competing ideas debated with the seriousness this responsibility demands.