Constitution not property of the President - Fr Mwango

...says the test of Zambia's democracy is whether it can defend constitutional limits even when doing so goes against the interests of those in power

By NATION REPORTER

THE Constitution of Zambia must remain greater than political personalities, electoral victories and the ambitions of those entrusted with public office, Catholic priest Father Martin Mwango has said.

Fr Mwango said presidential term limits were among the democratic safeguards that must be protected regardless of which political party occupied State House.

He said any debate on the possible removal or alteration of presidential term limits should be approached with constitutional maturity, historical awareness and a commitment to protecting democratic institutions.

"This debate should not be about President Hakainde Hichilema, UPND, PF or any individual seeking the presidency. It should be about the future of our Republic and the constitutional principles that must govern every President, regardless of political affiliation," he said.

The Rome-based priest said Zambia had confronted the question of presidential term limits before, citing former President Frederick Chiluba's attempt in 2001 to secure a third term through constitutional change.

He said the initiative generated considerable national debate and opposition before President Chiluba eventually abandoned it.

Fr Mwango said the episode remained an important reminder that presidential leadership should operate within constitutional limits.

He also cited the legal battles surrounding the eligibility of former President Edgar Lungu to contest the 2021 presidential election and the subsequent Constitutional Court ruling on his eligibility to contest another presidential election.

He said such developments demonstrated why constitutional provisions should be respected and interpreted through established legal processes rather than political convenience.

Fr Mwango said Article 106 of the Constitution provided for a five-year presidential term and established restrictions on presidential eligibility after two terms.

"These provisions are institutional safeguards intended to promote democratic accountability, leadership renewal and peaceful succession," he said.

He said the presidency was a public trust and not personal property, adding that no individual should be considered indispensable to the Republic and no political party should regard itself as permanently entitled to govern.

Fr Mwango said political institutions existed to serve citizens and the common good, drawing from Catholic Social Teaching and Gaudium et Spes (joy and hope).

Fr Mwango said the country's democratic maturity would ultimately be measured not by how long an individual remained in power, but by how faithfully the country protected its constitutional institutions and ensured peaceful leadership succession.