Zambia ruling party's bid on law change fails

Zambia's ruling party's attempt on Thursday to push through a constitutional amendment that would have increased the president's powers in the electoral system has failed.

It also sought to give President Edgar Lungu more control on central bank's monetary policy and curb parliament's oversight role, according to AFP news agency.

The amendment, known as Bill number 10, failed to garner the support of the mandatory two-thirds of Members of Parliament. It got 105 votes out of the required 111 votes.

Opposition lawmakers snubbed the parliamentary session.

There was jubilation in the capital, Lusaka, after the bill failed, AFP reports.

Leader of the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) party, Hakainde Hichilema, celebrated the bill's defeat in a Facebook post, saying its was "a diabolical idea from an evil regime that had sought to entrench itself against the will of the people".

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: National Assembly of Zambia