NGOCC u-turns rejects Hichilema’s bill 7

…We Are Disappointed There Is No Transparency

The Non-governmental Gender Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has made a u-turn and rejected the Bill 7 of 2025 the Hakainde Hichilema administration is pushing for ammendment.

The women’s rights biggest organization which had earlier supported the need for construction Ammendments says the exercise lacks transparent, consultative, and inclusive.

NGOCC Chairperson Beauty Katebe says the women’s movement had welcomed the government’s decision to embark on constitutional reform on the condition that it would be transparent, consultative, and inclusive.

KBN Television reports that Ms Katebe was speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday where she expressed disappointment that the process has not met the minimum expected standards.

She says the critical issue of representation for women, youth, and persons with disabilities remains inadequately addressed.

Ms Katebe says the proposals fall short of ensuring meaningful inclusion of these marginalized groups as it only represents about 14 percent which is far below the regional benchmark of 50-50 representation.

She has further called upon the Government to pause and reconfigure the amendment process to be truly inclusive and guided by broad consensus.

Ms Katebe is also concerned that the Electoral Review Technical Committee (ERTC) report, which informed key proposals, has not been made public, raising serious transparency concerns and undermining public trust.

Government published BILL 7 among which it proposes the proportional representation electoral system with not more than 20 seats reserved for women, 12 for Youths and 3 seats for persons with disabilities.

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