Harare West legislator Joanah Mamombe has called for a referendum on the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, arguing that the proposed changes are too significant to be decided by Parliament alone.
Debating the Bill in the National Assembly, Mamombe said residents of her constituency had instructed her to oppose the amendments in their entirety, citing concerns over the concentration of power and the weakening of democratic institutions.
“The recurring message from the constituency I represent in this august House, Harare West Constituency, was a demand for a referendum,” she said.
Mamombe criticised several provisions in the Bill, including proposals to extend the terms of elected officials from five years to seven years.
On this topic
“In 2023, the President and Members of Parliament were elected for a five-year term. No candidate sought a mandate from the people for seven years. To extend the term after the election is to alter the people’s mandate after it has already been given,” she said.
She argued that constitutional safeguards were designed to prevent office holders from benefiting from amendments that extend their tenure.
“If leaders want a seven-year term, they must ask the people directly through a referendum, and such changes should apply only to future officeholders, not the current Parliament. Additional appointed senators could alter the balance of power in Parliament and make it easier for the ruling party to secure a supermajority without winning a genuine two-thirds mandate from voters,” she said.
The legislator also rejected proposals to remove constitutional restrictions that prevent traditional leaders from participating in partisan politics.
“Traditional leaders serve communities made up of citizens with different political views. Their authority depends on neutrality, fairness, and trust. If traditional leaders become openly partisan, their constitutional role as community leaders and quasi-judicial authorities is compromised,” she said.
“The people of this country made the Constitution. The people must decide whether it should be fundamentally altered. I am calling on Parliament to reject the Bill in its entirety. It weakens democratic accountability and shifts power away from ordinary Zimbabweans.”
“The people of this country made the Constitution. The people must decide whether it must be fundamentally altered. I am calling on Parliament to reject the Bill in its entirety. It weakens democratic accountability and shifts power away from ordinary Zimbabweans.”
Support CITE’s fearless, independent journalism. Your donation helps us amplify community voices, fight misinformation, and hold power to account. Help keep the truth alive. Donate today
Leave a Reply