House of Chiefs should be elevated to second legislative Chamber – academician 

By NATION REPORTER

…says chiefs should be given veto powers, proposes transforming traditional leaders’ chamber into a non-partisan “Second House” to check presidential authority

By NATION REPORTER

RENOWNED academic and governance expert Professor Kaluba Kapapula has proposed sweeping constitutional reforms that would transform Zambia’s House of Chiefs into a powerful second legislative chamber with authority to check presidential power.

Prof Kapapula said the reforms would help curb excessive executive authority and provide citizens and political players with a non-partisan institution through which grievances could be addressed.

He said the House of Chiefs, which currently serves primarily as an advisory body on traditional and customary matters, should be given explicit constitutional powers to provide checks and balances on the Executive.

“The executive branch has historically wielded disproportionate power, often rendering other oversight institutions ineffective,” Prof Kapapula said.

“We must look to our traditional leaders to provide a stabilising, non-partisan buffer. The reformed House of Chiefs will serve as an ultimate refuge for political grievances and an institutional fortress representing the people whenever they feel the presidency is out of order.”

Under his proposal, the restructured chamber would comprise senior traditional leaders drawn from all provinces, including Paramount Chief Chitimukulu, Paramount Chiefs Kalonga Gawa Undi and Mpezeni, the Litunga, Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe, Senior Chief Muchinda, Senior Chiefs Kanongesha, Ishima, Kasempa and Ndungu, Senior Chief Monze and Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II.

Prof Kapapula proposed that the reformed House of Chiefs be given veto powers over executive decisions that threaten national unity, constitutional integrity or local government autonomy.

It would also have powers to formally censure executive actions where the President was deemed to have acted outside constitutional boundaries.

The professor further proposed that the chamber ratify key appointments, including the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission chief and the Public Protector.

He said the House should also have mandatory co-signing powers over international treaties affecting natural resources, mineral wealth and customary land.

“In extreme cases where constitutional order was threatened, the chamber oversee and validate impeachment proceedings alongside the Judiciary,” Prof Kapapula said.

He called on legal experts, civil society organisations, traditional leaders and political stakeholders to debate the proposals, saying greater integration of traditional governance structures into Zambia’s democratic system could help promote political stability and reduce executive dominance.