Zimbabwe’s Catholic bishops have urged Parliament to reject parts of the Constitutional Amendment (No. 3) Bill, warning that some of the proposed changes threaten democratic participation and constitutional accountability.
In a submission to lawmakers, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) said certain clauses would weaken safeguards embedded in the 2013 Constitution and undermine the sovereignty of citizens.
ZCBC president Bishop Raymond Mupandasekwa said the Conference was particularly concerned about Clause 2 of the Bill, which proposes abolishing direct presidential elections and replacing them with a system in which the President is elected by Parliament.
“The direct election of the President by registered voters is not merely one method among equals; it is the constitutionally chosen expression of the democratic principle that executive authority derives from the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
He argued that transferring the election of the Head of State from citizens to Parliament would fundamentally alter the source of executive legitimacy and reduce public participation in governance.
Bishop Mupandasekwa said Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle was rooted in the principle of “one person, one vote”, adding that citizens must retain the right to directly elect their president.
“The right to vote for one’s Head of State forms part of the broader political rights protected under Section 67 of the Constitution,” he said.
The bishops also rejected proposals to extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years.
“Term limits are not technical formalities,” Bishop Mupandasekwa said. “They are democratic safeguards designed to prevent excessive concentration of power, encourage constitutional accountability, protect peaceful democratic succession and preserve public trust in governance.”
The Conference further expressed concern over reports of intimidation and the suppression of dissenting voices during public hearings on the Bill.
It urged Parliament to reject provisions it said would weaken democratic participation and constitutionalism.
The Constitutional Amendment (No. 3) Bill has sparked debate among political parties, civil society groups and faith-based organisations, with supporters arguing it would streamline governance, while critics say it risks diluting key democratic principles.