By the Rt. Rev’d. Dr. Musonda Trevor Selwyn Mwamba, President of the United National Independence Party (UNIP), Zambia.
“Thus says the Lord”, is how in the Bible, the ancient prophets signalled an important message to those who were immoral. Accordingly, I say to you my fellow Zambians, “Thus says the Lord”, the proposed Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025 is not merely a piece of legislation; it is a profound moral failure by our government.
The haste, the lack of genuine public consultation, and the clear intention to consolidate power at the expense of our democratic foundations—all these actions stand in direct contradiction to the eternal principles of justice, righteousness, and good governance as laid out in the Bible.
The government’s attempt to push this Bill 7 through, ignoring the will of the people and sidestepping the required wide public consultation, echoes the profound condemnation found in Isaiah 10:1-2:
“Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune, which they have prescribed; to rob the poor of justice, and to take away the right from the poor of My people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless.”
Bill 7, in its measures to remove by-elections and weaken local governance, is an unrighteous decree because it robs the poor of justice by silencing their voice and removing their right to hold elected officials accountable through the democratic recourse of a by-election. It preys upon the politically “fatherless”—those without strong representation—by concentrating power in the hands of a few.
The government’s insistence on pushing Bill 7, despite overwhelming public dissent, is a direct violation of the divine command to uphold justice for the vulnerable. By manipulating the constitutional process, they are placing themselves under a Scriptural curse. As the book of Deuteronomy 27:19, says:
“Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.”
The government’s actions, which sideline the democratic process and ignore the voice of the people, are akin to perverting the rights of those with no power.
The Zambian people, standing against the might of the state, are the ‘strangers’ and the ‘fatherless’ in this scenario. A government that writes laws against the will of the citizens it is sworn to serve is committing this very perversion of justice.
The Old Testament prophets teach us repeatedly that rulers are tasked to administer justice and righteousness.
The prophet Jeremiah 22:3 gives an explicit command to the King:
“Thus says the Lord: Execute justice and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.”
The government has oppressed the public by denying them their right to a genuine, people-driven constitutional review process. They have acted in a way that benefits the political elite (“the oppressor”) and ignores the fundamental rights of the ordinary citizen (“the plundered”).
The very stability of a nation rests on the moral character of its leaders. As Proverbs 16:12 states:
“It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established by righteousness.”
The proposed Bill 7, widely criticized for being an exercise in political self-preservation, is an abomination because it seeks to dismantle the very checks and balances that uphold the justice system.
Our leaders must be reminded of their spiritual duty to use their power to defend, not to oppress, to heal, not to hurt, indeed to listen. They are failing in the very minimum requirements of a moral ruler.
To remain silent while the political process is corrupted is itself a sin. The Bill of Rights must not be suppressed, and the democratic voice must not be stifled. As Proverbs 31:8-9, commands us:
“Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to destruction. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
We, the Church, the Civil Society, the Law Society, the Traditional Leaders, the Opposition Political Parties, are the voice for the speechless masses who recognize the danger of Bill 7, but feel powerless against the state machinery. We are pleading the cause of democracy itself.
The government’s contempt in ignoring the Constitutional Court’s ruling in the case of Celestine Mukandila and Munir Zulu vs Attorney General is not only an insult to our constitutional democracy; but also the poor and its indifference to the suffering caused by its unjust policies is a direct insult to God.
As Proverbs 14:31 teaches us, “He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honours Him.”
To push through a bill that concentrates power and resources at the centre while weakening local representation is to oppress the already needy citizen and to reproach the Lord who mandated compassion, mercy, and love.
The Scriptures make it clear that religious observance, or calling ourselves a Christian nation, without social justice is meaningless. The government cannot claim moral authority while simultaneously pursuing an immoral agenda.
God calls for a cleansing of actions, not just words. The insistence on Bill 7 is an act of evil that must cease. We recall the words of the prophet Isaiah 1:16-17:
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.”
The government must cease the evil of pushing this Bill 7, learn to do good by withdrawing it, and seek justice by listening to the people.
The true test of a nation’s morality is how it handles fundamental justice, not mere legislative manoeuvres. The prophet Micah declared the essential requirement for all rulers:
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
Bill 7 is the antithesis of walking humbly. It is arrogant, unjust, and merciless towards the democratic rights of the Zambian people.
Formalism without righteousness is condemned. The government may believe that the process of passing Bill 7 is valid, but the spirit of the law is utterly corrupt.
We echo the prophet Amos 5:24:
“…let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Bill 7 blocks the flow of justice, turning the democratic stream into a stagnant pool of elite interest.
Ultimately, we must remind government of the words of Christ, condemning those who focus on trivialities while neglecting the core of moral duty:
“Woe to you Pharisees for you tithe mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and neglect justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” (Luke 11:42)
The government may pride itself on certain small achievements, but by neglecting the justice of the constitutional process, they have failed in the weightiest matter of governance.
We urge the government to cease this immoral pursuit of Bill 7. Their stubborn refusal to heed the public outcry and to respect the need for broad consensus is a rejection of the principles of justice that bind any nation under God. Zambia must be governed by the rule of law and righteousness, not by the self-serving whims of those temporarily entrusted with power. We must obey God rather than men.
