The Zambian bishops' conference has opposed a proposal to identify Zambia as "a Christian nation" in the preamble to a new national constitution.

A statement from the bishops' conference submitted to the Constitutional Review Commission said "a country cannot practise the values and precepts of Christianity by a mere declaration.

In the preamble, the declaration that Zambia is a Christian nation should be omitted," the conference said.

It said the principle of Church-state separation must not be lost, adding that Zambia is a multireligious country.

The conference also opposed attempts to include a clause supporting abortion.

The constitution should not support abortion, death penalty or mercy killing, the bishops said.