Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 consultations deeply flawed

Public consultations on Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 have been described as deeply flawed, with residents accusing Parliament of excluding thousands of citizens from meaningfully participating in the process.

At the Bulawayo Large City Hall, more than 3,500 people reportedly attended the hearing, but submissions were taken from only about 100 participants, raising concerns about what residents called a "democratic miscarriage".

Residents also criticised the decision to hold consultations at only two venues in the entire city - the Large City Hall and Nketa Hall - saying this left out a significant portion of Bulawayo's population.

A concerned resident said the process failed to capture the true views of the people.

"When only 100 out of 3,500 attendees are heard at a venue like the Bulawayo Large City Hall, we are left with a significant democratic deficit. Mathematically and socially, we cannot claim that the views of this small group represent the silent majority," he said.

He added that public consultations often suffer from selection bias, where only the most organised, loudest or politically backed individuals manage to speak.

"This leaves out the silent majority - thousands who may disagree but lack the opportunity or the microphone courage to speak. In a high‑pressure environment, complex opinions are often replaced by slogans and applause‑seeking statements," he said.

He warned that attendance does not equal agreement, arguing that organisers often mistake a large turnout for a successful consultation.

"Showing up is merely an act of interest, not an act of consent. Without a mechanism to capture the input of the other 3,400 people, the data collected is anecdotal, not representative," he said.

The resident said the only credible way forward was a referendum.

"To move beyond guesswork and echo‑chamber politics, a referendum is the only logical solution. A secret ballot allows citizens to express their true views without fear of victimisation or social pressure. It shifts power from the 100 loudest voices to the thousands with actual votes," he said.

He added that the Constitution requires a referendum when a presidential term is being extended, and another when the incumbent stands to benefit from that extension.

"If the goal is to truly understand the pulse of Bulawayo, 100 voices in a hall of thousands is a conversation, not a consultation. For a decision this significant, the people deserve a referendum," he said.

Another Bulawayo resident, Khethiwe Tshuma, said Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 must go to a referendum, arguing that "anything else is going against the will of the people".