“Since independence, Zambia has had
five major constitutional amendments
(an average of one every 10 years), a
fact that has raised concerns about the
country’s constitutional foundations.
The constitution has been made a
campaign issue in every presidential
election since Zambia’s return to
multiparty politics in the 1990s. In
recent years, constitutional reform has
become increasingly politicised and
intransigent. The latest constitutional
amendment, announced in January
2016, offered Zambians provisions
that had long formed part of their
aspirations and demands. Why then
was the 2016 constitution recently
defeated in a national referendum?
This policy briefing demonstrates
how the interests of citizens have
continually been placed behind the
interests of Zambia’s political elite,
including in the 2016 referendum.”
