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ZCC demands referendum on CAA3
10 hrs ago |
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The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has renewed its call for a national referendum on the recently enacted Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Act No. 3 of 2026 (CAA3), warning that the law has intensified political divisions and constitutional disputes instead of resolving them.
In a pastoral letter released on Monday and titled "A Call to Constitutional Fidelity, Peace, and National Cohesion," the church body said the enactment of CAA3 on July 7 had failed to bring closure to the debate surrounding the constitutional changes.
Instead, the ZCC said the legislation had "deepened national polarisation and generated serious constitutional, political, and moral contestation."
The council noted that several Constitutional Court applications challenging the validity of the Act have already been filed, while some citizens have indicated their intention to exercise their constitutional right to demonstrate against the legislation.
"A host of court applications have been filed by citizens and organisations challenging the validity of the Act, while other citizens have expressed an intention to exercise their constitutional right to demonstrate," the ZCC said.
The council urged Zimbabwe's leaders to exercise restraint and place national unity above political interests, describing the Constitution as "a sacred covenant" that binds all Zimbabweans.
The ZCC reiterated its longstanding position that amendments affecting presidential and parliamentary terms, presidential election procedures and constitutional term-limit provisions should have been subjected to a national referendum in accordance with Section 328 of the Constitution.
The church body has consistently opposed the constitutional amendments throughout their passage in Parliament, a position also adopted by the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations, which comprises the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and the Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe Africa (UDACIZA).
The ecumenical grouping previously argued that the proposed amendments raised significant constitutional and ethical concerns and called for wider public consultation.
In Monday's pastoral letter, the ZCC proposed the establishment of an independent commission to conduct broad-based consultations on the constitutional changes.
It argued that institutions that stand to benefit from the amendments could not credibly oversee consultations on the matter.
"A referendum would not be an act of weakness; it would be an expression of confidence in the people, a safeguard of legitimacy and a means of reducing the division now threatening our common life," the council said.
The church body also commented on the legal challenges currently before the Constitutional Court, urging all parties to respect the judicial process.
"Without prejudging their merits, we call upon all parties to respect these judicial processes and urge the courts to discharge their constitutional mandate independently, impartially, and without fear, favour or interference," the letter said.
The ZCC further called for the protection of litigants, lawyers, judicial officers and witnesses from intimidation or interference during the court proceedings.
Addressing planned demonstrations against the constitutional amendments, the council reaffirmed that the rights to assemble, petition and demonstrate peacefully are protected under Sections 58 to 61 of the Constitution.
It urged citizens exercising those rights to do so peacefully, responsibly and within the confines of the law, while discouraging violence, destruction of property, intimidation and hate speech.
At the same time, the council called on the Government, police and other security agencies to facilitate peaceful demonstrations and ensure that law enforcement actions remain lawful, necessary, proportionate and restrained.
"There must be no arbitrary arrests, collective punishment, intimidation or use of force," the letter said.
Rejecting suggestions that its position was politically motivated or influenced by foreign interests, the ZCC described itself as a fellowship of Zimbabwean churches committed to promoting national peace, justice and reconciliation.
The council also called for an inclusive national dialogue involving political leaders, churches, civil society, traditional leaders, business, women and youth to foster consensus on Zimbabwe's constitutional future, while maintaining that such dialogue should complement—not replace—the constitutional safeguards it says require a national referendum.
The pastoral letter concluded with a prayer for national unity, wisdom for political leaders, restraint by security services and reconciliation among Zimbabweans.
In a pastoral letter released on Monday and titled "A Call to Constitutional Fidelity, Peace, and National Cohesion," the church body said the enactment of CAA3 on July 7 had failed to bring closure to the debate surrounding the constitutional changes.
Instead, the ZCC said the legislation had "deepened national polarisation and generated serious constitutional, political, and moral contestation."
The council noted that several Constitutional Court applications challenging the validity of the Act have already been filed, while some citizens have indicated their intention to exercise their constitutional right to demonstrate against the legislation.
"A host of court applications have been filed by citizens and organisations challenging the validity of the Act, while other citizens have expressed an intention to exercise their constitutional right to demonstrate," the ZCC said.
The council urged Zimbabwe's leaders to exercise restraint and place national unity above political interests, describing the Constitution as "a sacred covenant" that binds all Zimbabweans.
The ZCC reiterated its longstanding position that amendments affecting presidential and parliamentary terms, presidential election procedures and constitutional term-limit provisions should have been subjected to a national referendum in accordance with Section 328 of the Constitution.
The church body has consistently opposed the constitutional amendments throughout their passage in Parliament, a position also adopted by the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations, which comprises the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and the Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe Africa (UDACIZA).
The ecumenical grouping previously argued that the proposed amendments raised significant constitutional and ethical concerns and called for wider public consultation.
In Monday's pastoral letter, the ZCC proposed the establishment of an independent commission to conduct broad-based consultations on the constitutional changes.
It argued that institutions that stand to benefit from the amendments could not credibly oversee consultations on the matter.
"A referendum would not be an act of weakness; it would be an expression of confidence in the people, a safeguard of legitimacy and a means of reducing the division now threatening our common life," the council said.
The church body also commented on the legal challenges currently before the Constitutional Court, urging all parties to respect the judicial process.
"Without prejudging their merits, we call upon all parties to respect these judicial processes and urge the courts to discharge their constitutional mandate independently, impartially, and without fear, favour or interference," the letter said.
The ZCC further called for the protection of litigants, lawyers, judicial officers and witnesses from intimidation or interference during the court proceedings.
Addressing planned demonstrations against the constitutional amendments, the council reaffirmed that the rights to assemble, petition and demonstrate peacefully are protected under Sections 58 to 61 of the Constitution.
It urged citizens exercising those rights to do so peacefully, responsibly and within the confines of the law, while discouraging violence, destruction of property, intimidation and hate speech.
At the same time, the council called on the Government, police and other security agencies to facilitate peaceful demonstrations and ensure that law enforcement actions remain lawful, necessary, proportionate and restrained.
"There must be no arbitrary arrests, collective punishment, intimidation or use of force," the letter said.
Rejecting suggestions that its position was politically motivated or influenced by foreign interests, the ZCC described itself as a fellowship of Zimbabwean churches committed to promoting national peace, justice and reconciliation.
The council also called for an inclusive national dialogue involving political leaders, churches, civil society, traditional leaders, business, women and youth to foster consensus on Zimbabwe's constitutional future, while maintaining that such dialogue should complement—not replace—the constitutional safeguards it says require a national referendum.
The pastoral letter concluded with a prayer for national unity, wisdom for political leaders, restraint by security services and reconciliation among Zimbabweans.
Source - Byo24News
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