Hichilema, the man who once blamed a sleeping government for the economic amputations of privatization, now appears to be relying on that same national slumber to smuggle in a new constitution.
By Mpandashalo Mwewa.
Lusaka, Mar. 13 – In a democracy, silence in the face of a constitutional coup is not just complacency – it is complicity. The Zambian people cannot afford to remain idle while whispers of constitutional amendments echo through the corridors of power, shrouded in secrecy. The very foundation of the Republic – our supreme law – cannot be adulterated behind closed doors, and yet, here we are, seemingly unbothered as the President charts a perilous course.
Also Read: From Economic Crisis to Constitutional Circus: Hichilema’s Misplaced Priorities! Instead of fixing Zambia’s collapsing economy, President Hichilema is busy plotting constitutional gymnastics to safeguard his political future.
Hakainde Hichilema, the man who once blamed a sleeping government for the economic amputations of privatization, now appears to be relying on that same national slumber to smuggle in constitutional changes. But how can Zambians afford to sleep through such a momentous assault on democracy? The Constitution is not an individual’s plaything; it is the people’s safeguard, the ultimate defense against tyranny. Yet, as rumors swirl of a clandestine constitutional draft, where is the uproar? Where is the patriotism?
Patriotism does not mean blind loyalty to the man in State House. It means unwavering allegiance to the Republic itself. A truly patriotic citizen does not wait until the ink has dried on a treacherous amendment to react – they act in the now, in defense of the future. If the very individual sworn to uphold the Constitution is instead maneuvering to defile it, it is not just a betrayal of his oath but a direct affront to every Zambian who values democracy.
There is no legitimate reason for secrecy in constitutional amendments unless deception is at play. A process meant to be transparent, inclusive, and reflective of national aspirations cannot be conducted in the shadows without raising alarm. If the president’s motives were pure, why hide? If his intentions were noble, why exclude the citizenry? The silence surrounding this process is deafening, and the lack of resistance even more so.
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Patriotism, therefore, demands vigilance. The Zambian people must not wait for history to repeat itself and then lament in hindsight. If democracy is to survive, if the Constitution is to remain sacrosanct, then action must be immediate, collective, and unyielding. For inaction now will only pave the way for a regrettable future where Zambia wakes up to find its democracy irreversibly altered – by stealth, by secrecy, and by the very hands that once swore to protect it.
About The Author: Mpandashalo Mwewa, currently the Chief Editor at Woodpecker’s Digest, formerly held the same role at Zambia Reports. Known for championing Pan-African education reforms with a focus on critical thinking, he employs journalism to instigate social transformation.
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