NGOCC trashes bribery allegations over Bill 7

By GIDEON NYENDWA

THE Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has rubbished claims by Robert Chabinga alleging that Government has formulated a budget meant to bribe some selected civil society organisations to support the infamous Bill 7, which the Constitutional Court has branded illegal, unconstitutional and against democratic tenets.
The NGOCC has been named in an audio that has now gone viral in which Mr Chabinga and Ms Doreen Mwamba, the Minister of Community Development have attacked Justice Minister Princess Kasune as not being steady and that President Hakainde Hichilema should consider reshuffling her to a different Ministry.
But the organisation as distanced itself from the leaked audio alleging Government has allocated a budget to buy off Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in exchange for their support of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, NGOCC board chairperson Beauty Katebe condemned the accusations, describing them as outrageous, baseless, misleading and a direct affront to the integrity and credibility of the organisation and the broader civil society movement.
“In this recording, one of the individuals suggests that a budget may have been allocated to support organisations backing Bill No. 7 and further insinuates that NGOCC is among the organisations allegedly being part of the budget.
Let us be clear and categorical that NGOCC distances itself from these unfounded and misleading allegations,” Ms Katebe said.
Ms. Katebe has reiterated NGOCC’s firm stance against Bill No. 7, asserting that the organisation publicly rejected the bill on June 2, 2025, due to the flawed and exclusionary process by which it was formulated.
She said Government would be wasting its time and resources to proceed with Bill 7 and that NGOCC would never betray Zambians by getting bribed to support the proposed law that had roundly been rejected.
She said Government was aware that the Bill 7 process lacked transparency, inclusivity, and broad-based consultation, especially with women, youth, and other marginalised groups and that NGOCC would never support its enactment.
“We reject any process that sidelines the voices of citizens. NGOCC’s position remains unchanged and resolute. We exist to amplify the voices of the voiceless and to hold duty bearers accountable,” Ms Katebe said.
Ms.Katebe said the organisation, which was independent and non-partisan, had always been guided by the principles of good governance, justice, equity, gender equality, and constitutionalism.
“These allegations must be dismissed with the utter contempt and scorn they deserve. They are not only misleading but also part of a broader agenda of manipulation and misinformation,” she said.
Ms Katebe demanded an immediate retraction and clarification from those behind the leaked audio and urged Zambians to remain vigilant in defending democratic values.