The Editor Zambia
Questions emerge over the political interests driving the campaign against the proposed removal of presidential term limits.
The planned November 25, 2026 protest march against proposals to abolish presidential term limits raises an important question that Zambians should not ignore: who is really driving the political campaign surrounding this demonstration, and what interests are behind the mobilisation? 
On the surface, the march is being presented as a civil society initiative intended to defend Zambia’s Constitution and preserve the two-term presidential limit.
Several established organisations, including Chapter One Foundation, Transparency International Zambia, ActionAid, Caritas Zambia, the Council of Churches in Zambia, and the NGOCC, are associated with the initiative.
However, beyond the public announcement, there are questions about the political forces, media networks, and individuals who are actively amplifying the campaign.
The truth is that sections of the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance media machinery are the ones sponsoring the protest and turning what should be a constitutional debate into another political confrontation with President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND government.
This concern deserves scrutiny, particularly given the increasingly visible relationship between opposition political messaging and certain online platforms that have made attacking the President and his administration their principal preoccupation.
Among the personalities frequently associated with this political communication environment are Tonse Pamodzi Alliance spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba and academic and political commentator Sishuwa Sishuwa, Linda Kasonde of Chapter One Foundation and Beauty Katebe from the NGOCC.
There are also online platforms whose editorial positioning has attracted questions about their political alignment.
In a democratic society that the CSOs are preaching, the public deserves transparency about who is coordinating the mobilisation, financing its publicity, and organising the logistics.
The involvement of Linda Kasonde’s Chapter One Foundation and Beauty Katebe’s NGOCC also invites legitimate questions about whether the participating organisations will maintain an impartial approach to constitutional governance, regardless of which political party benefits or loses from a particular constitutional proposal.
The issue of presidential term limits is undoubtedly important. Zambia has a history of resisting attempts to extend presidential tenure, most notably during Frederick Chiluba’s administration in 2001. The constitutional provision limiting presidents to two terms remains an important democratic safeguard.
However, defending constitutionalism should not become an excuse for political opportunism or selective activism.
The same organisations must demonstrate equal commitment to democratic principles when political circumstances change.
Constitutional safeguards cannot be defended selectively, depending on whether the political beneficiary is friendly or hostile to particular interests.
It is also important to distinguish between the constitutional petition submitted to Parliament on October 27 and the proposed protest.
Citizens have the right to petition Parliament, just as other citizens have the right to demonstrate against proposals they oppose.
Neither activity should automatically be interpreted as evidence of an unconstitutional agenda.
But, the November 25 organisers must appreciate that a public demonstration of this magnitude requires accountability. Who is paying for the publicity? Which organisations are coordinating the mobilisation? Are political parties providing logistical or financial support?
These are legitimate questions, not attempts to suppress freedom of assembly.
Ultimately, Zambia’s constitutional debate must not be hijacked by political groups seeking to settle scores with the President or create an impression of widespread public discontent.
If the march is genuinely about defending democracy, its organisers should welcome transparency.
Zambians deserve to know whether they are participating in an independent civil society initiative or becoming instruments in a wider political campaign from the disgraced and dangerously bitter Tonse Pamodzi Alliance group.
