By Brian Matambo | Lusaka, Zambia

State Counsel and constitutional lawyer John Sangwa has warned that the passage of Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 represents a serious breakdown of Zambia’s constitutional order, arguing that the process in Parliament was more alarming than the substance of the Bill itself.

Speaking on Diamond TV, Sangwa said national attention should focus on what transpired in the National Assembly rather than the amendments contained in Bill 7, noting that the manner of its passage exposed a dangerous disconnect between constitutional principles and parliamentary conduct.

“This is not a partisan issue. It is a constitutional issue that every citizen should be concerned about,” Sangwa said. “What transpired on Monday does not happen in a constitutional democracy.”

He described the vote as unprecedented in Zambia’s 61 years of independence, particularly criticising the absence of a clear position from the Patriotic Front, the main opposition party. Sangwa argued that MPs elected on party sponsorship have an obligation to uphold party unity on constitutional matters, or openly declare and justify any decision to break ranks.

“In a sound parliamentary system, you cannot have secrecy on a constitutional matter,” he said. “If members are breaking ranks, they must explain why. That did not happen.”

Sangwa also took issue with Parliament proceeding with Bill 7 while related matters were before the courts, calling it a violation of long-established constitutional practice. He said Parliament historically deferred debate on such issues to allow courts to adjudicate freely, a principle he said was abandoned in this case.

“What we saw was the legislature and the courts operating on parallel tracks,” he said. “That is chaos. It undermines constitutionalism.”

He warned that the episode has damaged public trust in Parliament and projected a troubling image of Zambia to the outside world, suggesting the Constitution can be altered at will.

“The Constitution is not self-enacting,” Sangwa said. “It requires people of integrity to respect it. What Bill 7 has exposed is a gap between what is written on paper and what is practised in reality.”

While stressing that allegations of inducements to MPs remain unproven, Sangwa said even the perception of such conduct further taints the process and reinforces the need for transparency.

Looking ahead, he cautioned that Bill 7 has set a dangerous precedent for future amendments, weakening safeguards meant to protect the constitutional order. He maintained his long-standing opposition to constitutional amendments initiated by presidents, arguing most issues cited by government could be addressed through ordinary legislation.

On electoral reforms, Sangwa said any delimitation exercise can only begin after presidential assent and must be justified, transparent, and open to legal challenge if improperly conducted.

He also outlined his broader political vision under the Movement for National Renewal, which he described as a civic initiative aimed at fixing what he sees as a broken political system. The movement is targeting one million supporters before determining its next steps, including possible participation in the 2026 elections.

“We cannot just complain,” Sangwa said. “Participation in governance is a constitutional duty.”

As debate over Bill 7 continues, Sangwa’s warning is clear: the greatest damage may not be political, but to the integrity of Zambia’s constitutional democracy itself.