CITIZENS’ PETITION: STOP BILL 7 – DEFEND THE PEOPLE’S CONSTITUTION

We, the citizens of Zambia, stand with the Oasis Forum — a consortium comprising the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC), and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) — in rejecting Bill No. 7 of 2025 and the ongoing Technical Committee process that seeks to legitimize it.

• Lack of Inclusivity – The Technical Committee was appointed without consulting key stakeholders and is accountable only to the President.

• No Legal Safeguards – There is no legal framework to guarantee independence, transparency, or accountability in the Committee’s work.

• Election-Driven Timeline – The process is being rushed to influence the 2026 elections, not to serve the interests of citizens.

• Resurrection of Bill 7 – The process is built upon Bill 7, which was declared unconstitutional and null by the Constitutional Court in Munir Zulu & Celestine Mukandila v. Attorney General (2025/CCZ/009).

• The President must immediately halt the current process and withdraw Bill 7 from Parliament.

• The Government must facilitate a new, inclusive, and legally grounded process that reflects the will of the people.

• Members of Parliament must reject any constitutional amendment that undermines public participation or constitutional integrity.

Boycott participation in the Technical Committee process.

We support the Petitioning in the Constitutional Court to declare the process unconstitutional.

We demand that the President ends this illegitimate, rushed, ill-timed and election-centred process.

We Support nationwide peaceful action, including:

• Black Friday Campaign:
  • Honking Fridays (nationwide car honking every Friday from 15:00–17:00).
  • Black Ribbon & Car Disk Campaign to symbolize mourning for constitutional integrity.
• March Past Against Bill 7 – from Freedom Statue to State House on Friday, 28th November 2025.

By signing this petition, I join hands and unite with civil society, traditional leaders, faith-based organizations, academia, and all citizens in defending Zambia’s democracy and the sanctity of our Constitution. Sign this petition to say NO to Bill 7 and YES to a people-driven Constitution.

Signed: The Oasis Forum