Few documents have dominated Zambian politics like the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 — and now that its core ideas have shaped an election, it is worth slowing down and laying out, in plain language, what the reform actually did and why people are still fighting about it.
What is Bill 7?
Bill 7 was the Hichilema administration's package of constitutional amendments, introduced in 2025. It proposed restructuring the National Assembly: more constituencies, a mixed electoral system, and — for the first time — seats reserved for specific groups. After fierce pushback from the church, civil society and the Constitutional Court's questions about process, the bill was deferred twice. Its central architecture was nonetheless enacted through the amendment acts in force for the 2026 election.
What actually changed
A bigger, two-tier parliament. Zambia now elects 226 constituency MPs by first-past-the-post, plus 40 proportional-representation seats: 20 reserved for women, 15 for youth (18–35), and 5 for persons with disabilities. The president can still nominate additional members. The 40 PR members were sworn in on 22 September 2026.
New boundaries. Delimitation created new constituencies — a redrawing of the electoral map that critics said was rushed and favoured incumbents, and supporters said corrected years of under-representation in fast-growing areas.
Term limits untouched — so far. The two-term presidential limit remains in force. The September 2026 storm over calls to scrap it concerns a possible future amendment, not anything Bill 7 changed.
Why it's controversial
Supporters point to the most diverse parliament in Zambia's history. Critics make three arguments: the process was driven by the ruling party rather than national consensus; the expanded nominated and PR tiers increase presidential and party-leadership patronage; and the timing — changes landing just before a general election — undermined confidence. The UPND's dominant August victory, holding about 160 of 278 seats, gave the sceptics' argument visibility even among people who welcome the reserved seats.
What happens next
Three things to watch: whether the deferred remainder of Bill 7 returns to the new parliament; whether the promised broad-based constitutional commission ever materialises; and how the term-limits debate is settled. Lusaka Brief will track all three — this explainer will be updated as the story moves.
Explained is our reference desk: the background you need, updated as events develop.