M'membe asks Law Association of Zambia to call an extraordinary meeting on presidential term limits

Update: Earlier coverage reported lawyers' reaction to the term-limit debate. New: Socialist Party president Fred M'membe has written to the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) asking it to call an Extraordinary General Meeting and set out its position, and has given it seven days to reply. Socialist Party (SP) president Dr Fred M'membe has written to the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) asking it to call an Extraordinary General Meeting to discuss any proposed amendment to Article 106 of the Constitution, which deals with the limits on how long a President may stay in office, and to decide the association's position. In a letter to the LAZ president dated 2 November 2026, Dr M'membe pointed to public calls by ruling-party officials and supporters for President Hakainde Hichilema to remain in office beyond 2031. He also cited a petition presented to Parliament on 28 October by the Zambia Youth Organisation Consortium through nominated MP Francis Kope, which asks for presidential term limits to be removed. Dr M'membe asked LAZ to state whether changes to the tenure of a President should proceed without a national referendum. He said the SP was not asking the association to take the side of any political party. He proposed that LAZ work with the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Council of Churches in Zambia, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, the NGOCC and the former Oasis Forum organisations, and said the SP would join any common platform without trying to lead it. ## Background In his letter Dr M'membe referred to Article 79 of the Constitution, which requires a two-thirds majority of all members of the National Assembly to pass a constitutional amendment, and to the June 2025 Constitutional Court judgment on Bill 7, which stressed the need for public consultation before the Constitution is changed. ## Why it matters Term limits decide how long one person can lead the country, and any change would affect every voter. LAZ is the professional body of Za