SPEAKER STIRS HORNET’S NEST

SPEAKER of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti has stirred a political hornet’s nest with her controversial remarks that Parliament is ‘ready’ to debate and proceed with the discredited and widely rejected Constitution (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025 – popularly known as Bill 7.
Her comments, which come despite a Constitutional Court ruling, branding the Bill as unconstitutional and undemocratic, have drawn sharp rebukes from civil society, political stakeholders, and now, the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC).
It is both regrettable and alarming that the Speaker of the National Assembly – a position that demands absolute impartiality, respect for constitutionalism, and fidelity to the rule of law – would choose to publicly signal support for a process that the courts, the public, and even the President have all shown reservations about.
The Speaker’s role is to rise above partisan lines and maintain the integrity of Parliament. Instead, Ms Mutti’s remarks are being interpreted, rightly so, as overtly partisan and premature, especially while legal questions surrounding the Bill remain unresolved.
NGOCC’s intervention is particularly significant. It adds a powerful voice to the growing national chorus that has condemned not only the content of Bill 7 but also the manner in which it is being resurrected.
NGOCC Chairperson Beauty Katebe has rightly pointed out that bringing back Bill 7 in its current form would be “a betrayal and an affront” to the Constitution – especially given the context of a looming general election and the Court’s guidance on the matter.
That President Hichilema deferred the Bill after nationwide outcry shows that public sentiment and judicial caution had already forced a political pause.
Speaker Mutti’s latest statements completely undermine that pause and risk reigniting tensions that had only just begun to cool.
Indeed, Speaker Mutti’s comments directly contradict the Constitutional Court’s guidance, which declared the Bill illegal, undemocratic, and inconsistent with the established process for constitutional amendments.
By stating that Parliament is ready to move forward with Bill 7 “once the Executive gives the green light,” she is not only implying that the Legislature is waiting on the Executive to act – a problematic suggestion in itself – but also that the constitutional separation of powers can be sidestepped at political convenience.
It is no surprise, then, that calls for her impeachment are now growing louder. Political activist Michael Phiri’s assertion that Ms Mutti has lost the neutrality required of her office and should step down speaks to a deeper crisis of confidence.
Parliament cannot function effectively when its presiding officer appears to champion an agenda that has been widely rejected by the public and declared unconstitutional by the courts.
Neither can the country move forward when constitutional matters are treated as political battles rather than national issues requiring consensus.
This episode has become a test not just of Speaker Mutti’s leadership, but also of the broader commitment of the country’s democratic institutions to uphold the rule of law.
If there is any lesson to be drawn, it is that constitutional amendments cannot be bulldozed through Parliament without national consensus. The Speaker must urgently retract her remarks and reaffirm her commitment to neutrality. Anything short of that risks undermining the credibility of Parliament itself.