PEOPLE CALLING FOR PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMITS REMOVAL ARE EXERCISING FREEDOM OF SPEECH – UPND

The ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) has maintained that recent public discourse advocating for the removal of presidential term limits falls squarely within the realm of democratic expression. Speaking through party channels, the administration emphasized that citizens and civic groupings possess every right to express their views on governance and constitutional matters without state intimidation. This debate has intensified across various provinces, with certain interest groups petitioning or discussing the structure of executive tenures. While opposition parties and civil society organizations have raised sharp concerns that tampering with term limits could invite authoritarian tendencies and weaken democratic accountability, the ruling party insists that open dialogue must be permitted. State House and senior party officials have previously distanced the executive branch from any clandestine plots to alter the republican constitution for political self-preservation. President Hakainde Hichilema's administration has repeatedly asserted its commitment to upholding the current constitutional framework, which limits a president to two terms. Nevertheless, the mere presence of public commentary on term limits continues to polarize political analysts and everyday citizens alike. Critics argue that even discussing the removal of term limits opens a dangerous Pandora's box reminiscent of historical African political struggles where leaders successfully maneuvered to extend their rule. They contend that the ruling party should explicitly shut down such narratives rather than defending them under the guise of free speech, fearing it could test public tolerance and institutional strength. Conversely, defenders of free expression argue that a healthy democracy must tolerate diverse viewpoints, regardless of how controversial or sensitive the topic may be. As the constitutional reform debates unfold, political observers note that managing public perce