Makomborero Haruzivishe@MakomboreroH
The Constitution of Zimbabwe, ratified in 2013 following 4,821 exhaustive public outreach meetings across 1,950 wards, enshrines the profound sacrifices and aspirations of Zimbabweans, rooted in the pre-1980 liberation struggle for independence and the post-1980 pursuit of authentic democracy.
This COPAC-led process, spanning 105 days, united farmers, students, mothers, workers, and youth in a wave of hope and solidarity, forging a robust framework for rights protection. Drawing from the indomitable spirit of both the pre-independence liberation and post-independence democratic efforts, it culminated in a triumphant referendum, where everyday Zimbabweans from all walks of life delivered a resounding 95% approval.
In a profound betrayal, ZANU-PF’s Amendment (No. 3) Bill, H.B. 1, 2026, advances through a mere 64 hearings scheduled from March 30 to April 2, 2026 - averaging fewer than seven per province over four days - constituting a calculated procedural coup that silences millions of voices.
The bill audaciously extends terms of office, transfers presidential elections to parliamentary selection, postpones polls until 2030, reassigns voter oversight, overhauls the judiciary, politicizes traditional leadership, and abolishes the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, thereby entrenching state capture and authoritarian control while violating our cherished democratic achievements.
This disparity reveals catastrophic democratic decay and regression, eroding pluralism, desecrating Section 67’s fundamental rights to political participation, and setting Zimbabwe’s democracy back by decades.
All Zimbabweans must actively confront this malaise, which threatens to consolidate unaccountable power and undermine the 2013 Constitution’s participatory principles.
The Constitutional Defenders Forum @cdfzim urges individuals and organizations to engage fully in the public hearings from March 30 to April 2, 2026, by attending provincial sessions, submitting written representations to Parliament (via bills@parlzim.gov.zw or designated deposit boxes), and opposing provisions that weaken direct democracy and institutional independence.
Join the Constitutional Defence Forum via app.cdfzimbabwe.org to defend and uphold the constitution.
We must challenge this backsliding through lawful avenues, including petitions, civil society campaigns, and advocacy for a national referendum, ensuring amendments align with the popular will rather than elite agendas.
The @cdfzim unequivocally rejects the bill in its entirety to uphold constitutional integrity, protect rights, and honor the sacrifices of past struggles. Collective action is imperative to reclaim and strengthen Zimbabwe’s democratic future.