Bill number 10 to be discussed by Zambia’s parliament proposes constitutional amendments that would sharply increase President Edgar Lungu’s powers. The introduction of the Bill in the parliament, where the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) holds a majority, is giving jitters to political analysts and civil society groups bringing the country’s democratic credentials under cloud.
President Lungu, has been facing mounting criticism about his efforts to crush dissent and consolidate power ahead of elections in 2021. First multi-party elections in Zambia took place in 1991 and since then the country enjoyed relative stability. Lungu initially came to power when President Michel Sata died unexpectedly in 2014. He then won the presidency in 2016 through an election which was reportedly marred by clashes between PF supporters and those of the rival United Party for National Development (UPND). Critics say that the president has since adopted an increasingly authoritarian style jailing his rivals.
Tensions rose last year when the president asked the constitutional court to allow him to run again in 2021. The opposition and civil society figures objected to this saying that it breaches the constitution that limits the president to two terms while Lungu, if re-elected in 2021, would serve three times.
Bill number 10 if cleared by the Parliament will allow the head of state to nominate judges and ministers, change the electoral layout and take control of the central bank monetary policy. Critics call it “the country’s worst constitutional amendment since the achievement of independence in 1964,”making it almost effectively impossible to remove President Edgar Lungu from office.
