Zambia’s National Assembly has unanimously passed the Constitution of the Country’s Amendment Bill Number 7 of 2025, securing the required two‑thirds majority.
The Bill was adopted with 135 votes in favour, none against and no abstentions – an outcome hailed by Information Minister Cornelius Mweetwa as a vote of confidence in President Hakainde Hichilema.
“What has happened is remarkable and profound because the members of parliament have united the country today… They were agreed that Zambia is bigger than us,” he said.
The legislation now awaits presidential assent before it takes effect.
Zambia’s Constitution Amendment process requires a two‑thirds majority in the National Assembly, a threshold that has historically proven difficult to achieve due to partisan divisions.
The Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill No. 7 of 2025 introduces major structural reforms, including expanding the size of parliament, introducing proportional representation and revising local government rules.
Key changes include; “increasing elected members of parliament from 156 to 211 to reflect constituency delimitation. That would involve adding proportional representation seats targeting women, youth and persons with disabilities.”
The amendment establishes a Mixed Member Proportional Representation system where constituency MPs would be elected via the first past the post system while additional seats are distributed based on the share of total votes that a party gets.
With regard to by elections and electoral vacancies, the amendment stipulates that by elections cannot be held within 180 days before a general election, and clarifies procedures for resignations, disqualifications and vacancies due to death.
It also removes the two term limit for mayors and council chairpersons and harmonises terms of parliament and local government councils to a unified five year period.
APA/Oyenike Oyeniyi