Church bodies fault clandestine moves to amend constitution without public consultations, call for national dialogue

Church mother bodies in Zambia have criticized the government for drafting the Constitution in isolation, without public consultation, and for failing to address pressing national issues.

Speaking on behalf of the Church, Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Executive Director, Father Emmanuel Chikoya, expressed disappointment over the lack of government engagement on constitutional amendments despite repeated calls.

Chikoya made these remarks during a media briefing in Lusaka on Wednesday, held at the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat.

He also raised concerns over government’s failure to prioritize national dialogue, reconciliation, and unity.

“Why is the government drafting documents in isolation without public consultation? The ever-increasing cost of living, the rise of cadre militancy, with individuals wearing military regalia, and the blatant disregard for traffic rules are serious concerns,” Chikoya said.

He further condemned the growing culture of miscommunication and vulgar language in political discourse, warning that such trends were being encouraged by both ruling and opposition politicians.

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“We strongly object to the demeaning language used against Church leaders. It is essential to uphold the dignity of all people, regardless of their role in society,” he stated.

Chikoya noted that the political environment in the country remained highly charged, stressing the need for a well-informed and balanced approach to addressing national concerns.

He urged the government to tackle the root causes of poverty by ensuring access to reliable and affordable energy and implementing comprehensive poverty alleviation strategies.

The Church mother bodies represented at the briefing included the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB).

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