Citizens across Zimbabwe ask Parliament to decentralise public hearings on constitutional amendment

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) says residents from several provinces have approached the High Court seeking an order compelling Parliament to decentralise public hearings on the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (No. 3) (H.B. 1, 2026). The hearings are scheduled for 30 March to 2 April 2026.


According to ZLHR, two urgent applications were filed—one at the Harare High Court on 23 March and another at the Masvingo High Court on 24 March—arguing that the current schedule of hearings will disenfranchise many citizens who wish to participate in the consultations.

Residents from Mashonaland East and Masvingo provinces said Parliament’s decision to hold hearings only at selected district centres, rather than at ward level, makes it impossible for many people to attend. They argued that the chosen venues are not central to their districts, forcing citizens to travel long distances, often on foot or using limited public transport.

They also criticised the selection of venues such as Hwedza Centre as the sole hearing point for an entire district, calling it “unconscionable, unrealistic and unfair”. The applicants said Parliament has not provided transport for indigent residents, despite Section 328(4) of the Constitution requiring it to provide facilities that enable public participation in constitutional amendment processes.

The residents want Parliament—represented by Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda and Senate President Mabel Chinomona—to comply fully with Section 328(4) by ensuring that hearings are accessible to all citizens and that adequate facilities are provided to allow meaningful participation.

They further argued that their constitutional right to freedom of expression includes the right to express views on matters of national importance, such as proposed amendments to the Constitution.

Some applicants said that if Parliament cannot decentralise hearings due to time constraints, it should at least provide transportation to ferry residents to the designated venues. Others asked the High Court to interdict Parliament from holding the hearings on the scheduled dates until more accessible venues are provided.

The residents are represented by lawyers Passmore Nyakureba, Calexy Maunga and Phillip Shumba of ZLHR, and Dorothy Mutungura of Maunga and Maanda and Associates. Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and President Emmerson Mnangagwa have also been cited as respondents.

The Harare High Court application is set to be heard today, 26 March 2026, before Justice Gibson Mandaza at 10am. The Masvingo application is yet to be set down.