Coltart warns South Africa over Zimbabwe constitutional amendment debate

David Coltart has urged the South African government and the ruling African National Congress to publicly oppose efforts to pass Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) in Zimbabwe, warning that the move could worsen political and economic instability.

In remarks directed at President Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC leadership, Coltart said the proposed constitutional changes risk undermining Zimbabwe's constitutional order and increasing migration pressures into South Africa.

"South Africans, Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC in particular, need to understand that if the faction within Zanu PF pushing for Constitutional Amendment Bill 3 get their way, and desecrate Zimbabwe's Constitution, Zimbabwe will be further destabilised and that will only drive even more Zimbabweans into economic and political exile in South Africa," he said.

He called on the South African government to take a firm public stance against what he described as the destruction of Zimbabwe's Constitution and the consolidation of power within a small political elite.

"The time has come for the South African Government to speak out firmly, publicly and unequivocally, that the destruction of Zimbabwe's Constitution (and the consolidation of power by and into a tiny, corrupt elite) is unacceptable," he said.

Coltart argued that migration challenges facing South Africa are closely linked to conditions in Zimbabwe, saying internal measures alone will not resolve the issue without addressing the push factors.

"The historical facts show that the overwhelming majority of migrants to South Africa come from Zimbabwe. All South Africa's internal measures to deal with this crisis will come to naught if the push factor coming from Zimbabwe is not dealt with," he said.