THE Zambian government has been dragged to the Constitutional Court over its decision to restore diplomatic ties with Israel, with a former lawmaker arguing the move violates constitutional provisions on human dignity.
Munir Zulu, former Member of Parliament for Lumezi, filed the petition naming Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha and Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe as respondents. The legal challenge comes after President Hakainde Hichilema hosted Israeli President Isaac Herzog for a state visit in November 2025.
Zulu contends that diplomatic engagement with Israel breaches Articles 8(d) and 9(1)(c) of the Constitution, which establish human dignity as a core national value guiding state policy. He is seeking a declaration that the relationship is unconstitutional.
The petition references historical precedent from 1973, when President Kenneth Kaunda severed diplomatic relations with Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
The legal action follows Herzog’s two-day state visit to Lusaka on November 10-11, 2025, which marked the first visit by an Israeli president to Zambia. The visit included bilateral discussions, a state banquet, and the reopening of Israel’s embassy in the country.
During the visit, President Hichilema emphasised plans for cooperation in agriculture, energy, water management, education, mining, and tourism. He described the relationship as founded on “mutual respect, shared values, and cooperation for socio-economic advancement.”
The Constitutional Court has yet to set a hearing date for the petition.
