LUSAKA – National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader Saboi Imboela has expressed support for the progressive changes within the recently passed Constitution Amendment Bill 7, specifically highlighting the inclusion of a proportional representation system. She stated this system has the potential to make Parliament more inclusive. In an interview withKalemba, Imboela noted she has always supported proportional representation, asserting that if properly implemented, it could increase participation in national decision-making by women, young people, and persons with disabilities.
However, Imboela strongly criticized the manner in which the bill was passed, describing the process as “unfair and disrespectful to Zambians.” She clarified that her primary concern was not the content of the bill, but the legislative process that bypassed adequate public involvement. She referenced a prior Constitutional Court ruling that flagged insufficient public consultation on the bill. While the government subsequently appointed a technical committee to collect views nationwide, Imboela argued that the exercise failed to meaningfully influence the final legislation.
“When you want to amend the constitution, you must go to the people, you collect their views and allow them to say what they want changed. After going around the country, we still ended up with the original Bill,” Imboela said. She contended that using the committee’s report would have required revising the bill, a step the government avoided due to time constraints.
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“The Bill was pushed through instead of being shaped by the people,” she stated. Despite these reservations, Imboela maintained that Bill 7 is not entirely negative, stressing that proportional representation remains a significant gain. She cautioned the government against backtracking on the system once implemented.
“Government should not bring in proportional representation and later start changing their minds. It must be implemented properly and taken seriously,” she added. Imboela concluded by warning that constitutional amendments have long-term consequences for all citizens, including those who initially support them.
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