Opinion / Columnist
ZCC statement reads more like a manifesto of an opposition political party
3 hrs ago |
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Three days ago, on 13 April 2026, you (Zimbabwe Council of Churches -ZCC) submitted a statement to the Parliament of Zimbabwe, which presents itself as a sincere appeal "to the conscience of Parliament" on the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 3) H.B.I. Bill, 2026 - a Bill currently open for public consultation until 17 May.
With the greatest respect for ZCC's important voice in national life, the statement reads more like a manifesto of an opposition political party. It invokes and applies Scripture to declare that the Zimbabwe Council of Churches "opposes the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No. 3 (2026) because of the potential harm it causes to the nation and the legacy of our current President."
Your self-declared oppositional stance raises genuine concerns about the proper and balanced separation of Church and State.
When a major religious body like yourselves offers such direct and sweeping opposition to the Bill - effectively stepping into the constitutional roles reserved for Parliament to make law and the Judiciary to interpret it - you risk undermining and weakening not only these institutions but also important constitutional processes, such as the "public access to and involvement in Parliament" provided under section 141 of the Constitution.
To any fair-minded observer, your written statement to Parliament comes across as unusually partisan for a respected national Christian council representing three million citizens with a proud history as a mediator and an honest broker - and not an agitator - in society.
The fact that the statement is not evidence-based makes it worse.
As but one telling example, your claim that the Bill "fails to protect the vulnerable" is politically charged and highly disproportionate, not least because it is not and cannot be linked to any Clause of the Constitutional Bill under consultation. The claim would arguably be understandable as a critique of a policy; otherwise it is way off the mark as a commentary on an amendment to the Constitution meant for posterity.
Given the ZCC's long-standing reputation for balanced and constructive engagement, your submission to Parliament feels disappointing and falls short of the unifying, measured contribution fair-minded people have come to expect from ZCC.
Zimbabwe is stronger when important religious bodies like yours offer unifying moral and spiritual guidance in temperate language, while trusting and helping to build democratic institutions like Parliament and the Judiciary to handle constitutional matters - such as the Bill in question - through mutually respectful, open, and transparent processes!
With the greatest respect for ZCC's important voice in national life, the statement reads more like a manifesto of an opposition political party. It invokes and applies Scripture to declare that the Zimbabwe Council of Churches "opposes the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No. 3 (2026) because of the potential harm it causes to the nation and the legacy of our current President."
Your self-declared oppositional stance raises genuine concerns about the proper and balanced separation of Church and State.
When a major religious body like yourselves offers such direct and sweeping opposition to the Bill - effectively stepping into the constitutional roles reserved for Parliament to make law and the Judiciary to interpret it - you risk undermining and weakening not only these institutions but also important constitutional processes, such as the "public access to and involvement in Parliament" provided under section 141 of the Constitution.
The fact that the statement is not evidence-based makes it worse.
As but one telling example, your claim that the Bill "fails to protect the vulnerable" is politically charged and highly disproportionate, not least because it is not and cannot be linked to any Clause of the Constitutional Bill under consultation. The claim would arguably be understandable as a critique of a policy; otherwise it is way off the mark as a commentary on an amendment to the Constitution meant for posterity.
Given the ZCC's long-standing reputation for balanced and constructive engagement, your submission to Parliament feels disappointing and falls short of the unifying, measured contribution fair-minded people have come to expect from ZCC.
Zimbabwe is stronger when important religious bodies like yours offer unifying moral and spiritual guidance in temperate language, while trusting and helping to build democratic institutions like Parliament and the Judiciary to handle constitutional matters - such as the Bill in question - through mutually respectful, open, and transparent processes!
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