Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) has strongly criticised the proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, 2026, warning that its provisions could undermine citizens’ democratic power.
In a pastoral letter issued on Thursday, 19 March, the Roman Catholic bishops urged Members of Parliament to vote against the bill on grounds of conscience.
The letter, signed by all seven of the country’s bishops, reads in part:
“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 say that scrapping direct presidential elections hands executive power away from the people.
They argue that extending parliamentary and presidential terms from five to seven years without a fresh mandate “undermines democratic legitimacy,” and that ignoring the referendum requirement in Section 328(7) of the Constitution—which is meant to stop incumbents benefiting from term changes—creates “a glaring contradiction” that threatens the country’s constitutional democracy.
On the matter of independent institutions, the bishops warn that the bill could turn the judiciary, the prosecution service, and electoral bodies into tools of partisan control.
They are particularly concerned about the president gaining more power over the appointment of judges and the Prosecutor General, the transfer of voters’ roll and delimitation duties away from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, and provisions allowing traditional chiefs to act in a politically biased way.
The bishops directly appealed to MPs and senators, using scripture to encourage them to stand firm against pressure to vote for the bill. Reads the letter:
“To our Honourable Members of Parliament and Senators, we speak with deep respect and fraternal concern.
“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…
“Chokwadi chinokunda/ iqiniso liyanqoba—truth prevails. Let conscience guide you: reject any change that silences the people. History will judge whether you safeguarded their voice or betrayed it.”
The bishops said that if the amendments “truly serve the nation’s interests, the people should have the final say” through a transparent process involving wide consultation and, ultimately, a referendum. They said:
“If these amendments genuinely serve the nation’s welfare, let the people affirm them.
“Matters of such gravity demand transparency, wide consultation, and, where required, a referendum—honouring the Constitution’s own protections.
“The common good is not imposed from above; it emerges when all contribute, in solidarity and subsidiarity.
“The Constitution belongs to every Zimbabwean; it must remain in their hands.”
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