HARARE
–
Zimbabwe’s
Catholic
bishops
have
condemned
the
proposed
Constitution
of
Zimbabwe
Amendment
(No.
3)
Bill,
2026,
warning
that
its
provisions
collectively
strip
citizens
of
democratic
sovereignty.
In
a
pastoral
letter
on
Thursday,
the
bishops
called
on
members
of
parliament
to
vote
against
it
on
grounds
of
conscience.
The
public
letter,
titled
‘In
Defence
of
Truth,
Justice,
and
the
Voice
of
the
People’,
was
issued
by
the
Zimbabwe
Catholic
Bishops’
Conference
and
signed
by
all
seven
of
the
country’s
bishops.
“Our
Constitution
is
more
than
law;
it
is
a
solemn
covenant,
born
from
the
overwhelming
will
of
Zimbabweans
in
2013,
embodying
our
collective
hopes
for
justice,
unity,
peace,
and
prosperity,”
the
bishops
said.
The
statement
identifies
three
core
threats
in
the
bill.
It
argues
that
removing
direct
presidential
elections
transfers
executive
authority
away
from
popular
consent;
that
extending
parliamentary
and
presidential
terms
from
five
to
seven
years
without
a
fresh
mandate
“undermines
democratic
legitimacy”;
and
that
bypassing
the
referendum
requirement
entrenched
in
Section
328(7)
of
the
constitution
to
prevent
incumbents
from
benefiting
from
term
limit
changes
creates
“a
glaring
contradiction”
that
threatens
constitutional
democracy
itself.
On
independent
institutions,
the
bishops
warn
that
the
bill
risks
turning
the
judiciary,
prosecution
service
and
electoral
bodies
into
instruments
of
partisan
control.
They
express
concern
about
increased
presidential
powers
over
the
appointment
of
judges
and
the
Prosecutor
General,
the
transfer
of
delimitation
and
voters’
roll
responsibilities
away
from
the
Zimbabwe
Electoral
Commission,
and
provisions
that
would
permit
traditional
chiefs
to
act
in
a
partisan
manner.
Citing
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa’s
own
slogan
that
“the
voice
of
the
people
is
the
voice
of
God,”
the
bishops
said
it
would
be
a
contradiction
to
sideline
that
voice
through
amendments
that
concentrate
power
in
the
executive.
“When
the
people’s
role
fades,
so
too
does
the
legitimacy
of
rule,”
they
said.
The
bishops
made
a
direct
appeal
at
MPs
and
senators,
invoking
scripture
to
fortify
them
against
pressure
to
vote
for
the
bill.
“You
bear
a
sacred
duty
before
God
and
the
nation:
to
govern
for
the
common
good,
not
personal
or
partisan
gain.
Pressures
–
be
they
bribes,
threats,
or
promises
–
may
tempt
you,”
they
went
on.
“Chokwadi
chinokunda
/
iqiniso
liyanqoba
–
truth
prevails,”
the
bishops
added.
“History
will
judge
whether
you
safeguarded
their
voice
or
betrayed
it.”
The
bishops
said
if
the
amendments
“genuinely
serve
the
nation’s
welfare,
let
the
people
affirm
them”
through
a
transparent
process
including
wide
consultation
and,
ultimately,
a
referendum.
The
statement
was
signed
by
ZCBC
president
Rt.
Rev.
Raymond
Mupandasekwa
of
the
Diocese
of
Masvingo,
vice
president
Rt.
Rev.
Rudolf
Nyandoro
of
Gweru,
secretary
and
treasurer
Rt.
Rev.
Raphael
M.M.
Ncube
of
Hwange,
Rt.
Rev.
Paul
Horan
of
Mutare,
Rt.
Rev.
Eusebius
J.
Nyathi
of
Gokwe,
Archbishop
of
Harare
Most
Rev.
R.C.
Ndlovu
and
Archbishop
of
Bulawayo
Most
Rev.
Alex
Thomas.
The
pastoral
letter
is
the
latest
in
a
series
of
interventions
by
religious
bodies
against
the
bill.
The
Zimbabwe
Heads
of
Christian
Denominations,
an
ecumenical
body
representing
the
country’s
major
Protestant,
Pentecostal
and
Catholic
denominations,
issued
a
joint
statement
last
week,
while
the
Seventh-day
Adventist
Lawyers
Association
has
separately
written
to
parliament
urging
rejection
of
the
bill.
Parliament
is
expected
to
proceed
with
debate
on
the
bill
in
the
coming
days
following
public
consultations.