Ex-President Lungu alleges secret constitutional reforms to impose a new political system on Zambians

Former President Edgar Lungu has accused President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration of secretly initiating constitutional reforms without consulting the Zambian public.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, Lungu condemned the United Party for National Development (UPND) government for allegedly undertaking reforms to serve Hichilema’s personal political interests, calling it politically selfish and evil.

“In all functional democracies, Constitutional reforms are always people-driven, not arbitrary and ruling party-driven like the UPND is scheming,” Lungu said.

Lungu alleged that part of the planned reforms might revert Zambia’s electoral system from the 50 percent plus one rule to the old ‘First Past the Post’ system for presidential elections.

He challenged the government to engage in nationwide stakeholder consultations with a clear roadmap for the constitution-making process.

He also called for the establishment of a task force or commission to attain national consensus.

“This purported secret intention to alter our Republican Constitution using State House and Parliament is a mark of bad political motives, democratic backsliding, and is against the interests of Zambians and the spirit of statehood and democracy,” Lungu stated.

He warned that such changes could lead to an autocracy where a president could win with as little as 20 to 35 percent of the total votes, creating political instability and anarchy.

“In 2016, Zambians outlawed this ‘minority president’ governance framework. This scheme is an illegal and immoral act against our inclusive governance and democratic consolidation,” he added.

Lungu urged Zambians to oppose any attempts to reintroduce the minority president system, emphasizing that Zambia has been a regional leader in democratic institutions and good constitutionalism due to its responsible governments prioritizing national good over individual interests.

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