Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube | Zim GBC News<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HARARE \u2013 Zimbabwe’s Catholic bishops have issued a stern warning over the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3, arguing that the planned changes threaten the very foundations of the country’s democracy and undermine the will of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a strongly worded statement, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) expressed deep concern over the Bill, which was recently gazetted by Parliament. They cautioned that it could fatally erode key provisions of the 2013 Constitution\u2014a document that was overwhelmingly adopted through a national referendum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposed law seeks to introduce sweeping changes, including the extension of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term of office and an alteration of the current system where the President is directly elected by citizens. While supporters of the Bill argue the reforms are lawful and necessary for governance, the bishops have aligned themselves with critics who say the amendments raise serious constitutional questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bishops anchored their argument in the letter of the law, pointing to Section 91(2) of the Constitution, which explicitly limits a President to two terms. Although the Bill does not explicitly remove this limit, the proposals to extend the current term have triggered fierce debate on how the law should be interpreted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“In 2023, you elected representatives for five-year terms. Extending these terms to seven years without seeking a new mandate from voters undermines democratic legitimacy,” read part of the bishops’ statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Section 328(7) explicitly prevents incumbents from benefiting from term extensions.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bishops warned that tampering with the electoral cycle disrupts the entire constitutional structure. Section 95(2) states that the President serves a five-year term running concurrently with Parliament, while Section 143(1) fixes Parliament’s lifespan at five years. Analysts agree that extending these terms could throw the entire electoral cycle into disarray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps the most significant concern raised by the bishops is the proposal to change how the President is elected, moving away from direct suffrage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The right to directly elect the President is a core mechanism of citizen sovereignty. Moving this power to Parliament distances executive authority from the people,” they said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bishops urged authorities to respect the principle of public participation in decisions affecting governance, invoking both spiritual and cultural values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The voice of the people is the voice of God. Sidelining it risks weakening national unity and the principles of ubuntu\/unhu,” the statement added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposed amendment continues to generate intense debate among legal experts and political stakeholders. Constitutional lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku has indicated he may challenge the Bill through legal channels, setting the stage for a potential high-stakes court battle over the future of the nation’s supreme law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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