Prince Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika has strongly opposed the proposed constitutional amendments, saying the bad habit of molesting the Constitution using a Parliament that is never national, always partisan, and focused on making it easier for the ruling party to win elections, must come to an end. Akashambatwa says constitutional changes should be subjected to a national referendum rather than being driven by Cabinet or the ruling party, warning that constitutional proposals are often laced with “sweeteners”, such as increasing women’s representation in Parliament, meant to distract citizens from the hidden clauses designed to weaken democratic safeguards. He says the tactic of using attractive proposals to mask dangerous ones is nothing new, recalling how, even under Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s rule, youth...