Laws Are Like Post-Dated Cheques: The Trap President Hichilema Is Building for Himself
By Chitundu
“Laws are like post-dated cheques. They are cashed in when individuals least expect—and most times when the balance is insufficient.”
This timeless warning should be etched into the conscience of every leader who dares to amend a constitution. For President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND government, the amendments they now pursue may appear noble and strategic.
But history teaches us that laws—especially those made to entrench power—do not age kindly. They are silent, patient tools, waiting to be activated by hands often more ruthless than the ones that drafted them.
Today, HH holds the pen. Tomorrow, that pen may write his indictment. And it won’t be his enemies who bring him down—it will be the very legal instruments he is crafting right now.
The Expansion of Nominated MPs: A Dangerous Shortcut
Among the most concerning proposals is the increase in the number of nominated Members of Parliament. It is framed as a move toward inclusivity—accommodating women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
But in practice, it threatens to weaken Parliament’s independence, effectively stacking the legislature with individuals loyal not to the electorate, but to the president.
This might offer short-term political insulation for HH. But what happens when power changes hands? A future president—perhaps one of HH’s own convicted political rivals—could exploit the same mechanism to protect themselves from scrutiny and mount political persecution with legislative impunity.
Even more dangerously, this bloated class of unelected MPs could one day vote to lift HH’s presidential immunity once he’s out of office. Laws passed today for convenience will be used tomorrow for retribution. Loyalty in politics is transactional. Those who serve today can betray tomorrow.
Bypassing By-Elections: Saving Money, Losing Democracy
The proposed abolition of by-elections to fill parliamentary vacancies is sold as a cost-saving measure. But cost cannot be the sole metric in a democracy. By-elections allow citizens to reaffirm or reject political shifts. Removing them centralizes power in party structures, making it easier for ruling elites to reshuffle loyalty without public accountability.
For HH, this means the people lose one more lever to check their leaders. And in the long run, it removes one more shield he may desperately need when he is no longer in charge.
Term Limits: A Slippery Slope Begins with the Mayors
The proposal to remove term limits for mayors is being treated as a minor technical fix. It is anything but. It is a test balloon—a political experiment to see if Zambians will accept the dismantling of constitutional safeguards under the guise of flexibility.
But HH should remember: he is now the only major constitutional office bearer with a term limit. Once the precedent is set, the same arguments used to justify endless mayoral reigns can and will be used to push for a third presidential term. And his current, compromised Constitutional Court will likely pave the way.
What’s more troubling is this: if HH benefits from a system that allows unchecked tenure for others, he won’t have the moral or legal ground to object when a future leader tries to remove presidential term limits altogether. The gate he opens today will swing wider for those who come after him.
The Community House Precedent: He Is Not Exempt
Zambia’s current laws already empower the state to seize property of former leaders, even in the absence of formal conviction. HH knows this better than most. He has watched others lose homes, land, and businesses under the same legal framework he now expands.
His prized Community House is not immune to political backlash. Should the tides turn, it could be repossessed under the very laws he failed to reform—or worse, helped strengthen. By pushing these amendments without strong safeguards for post-presidential rights, HH is setting up a system that may one day be used to humiliate and dismantle his legacy.
The Constitutional Court: A Tool Waiting for a New Master
Zambia’s Constitutional Court has already shown signs of compromised independence. Under pressure, it will interpret the law in favor of whoever holds power. HH may assume it will protect him. But courts do not remain loyal—they remain functional. Their loyalty shifts with the presidency.
A future leader, emboldened by legal precedents created under HH, may use the same court to validate term extensions, fast-track immunity removals, or even justify retroactive punishments. What HH sees as political instruments today may become judicial weapons tomorrow.
Final Warning: Today It’s HH, Tomorrow It’s the Convicted Opposition
President Hichilema must remember: laws outlive politicians. They are inherited by successors who may have no respect for justice, democracy, or legacy. The system HH builds today could protect a future president who once sat in his jail cells, who once called him a dictator, who once swore vengeance.
Hichilema should pay attention to the tears and lamentations. These are tears of joy for the the seditionists. But he too is preparing the tools to be used so effectively against himself. These are not privatisation gymnastics or liquidations. Political power is something more complex. President Edgar Lungu showed restraint when dealing with him, the future may not be as kind to HH, with these tools he is preparing for himself.
And when that day comes, there will be no moral outrage, no legal shield, no public sympathy. The people will point to the it say,” you created this law, no face it”.
If HH wants to be remembered as a reformer, he must lead with restraint, not opportunism. If he truly believes in democracy, he must enshrine limits, not erase them. If he hopes for protection after power, he must build a system that protects all—not just himself while he’s in State House.
Because when the post-dated cheque comes due, no amount of legacy, loyalty, or legal gymnastics will keep it from bouncing.
John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
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Laws Are Like Post-Dated Cheques: The Trap President Hichilema Is Building for Himself
