Constitutional changes ‘deeply concerning’ say Zimbabwe bishops

Police have arrested several activists opposed to the amendment extending presidential terms, while others have been assaulted by suspected state security agents.

Zimbabwe’s Catholic bishops made their strongest objection yet to plans by the country’s ruling party to amend the constitution without a referendum.

The Zimbabwe Arican National Union (Patriotic Front), or ZANU-PF, has held power since independence in 1980. It has proposed the extension of the tenure of President Emmerson Mnangagwa beyond elections scheduled for 2028, but the plans have been met with concerns that this violates the country’s supreme law.

Critics say the constitutional amendments are part of the ruling party’s internal power struggle and succession politics which pit Mnangagwa against opponents who want him to keep his promise of 2017 – when he came to power after toppling Robert Mugabe – that he would serve no more than two terms.

In a long statement issued this week, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference called the plans a threat to democracy and the constitutional order.

“The Catholic Church in Zimbabwe participates in this constitutional process not as a political actor, but as a moral and civic voice concerned with the protection of human dignity, constitutionalism, democratic participation, justice, accountability and the common good,” the bishops said, in the statement dated 12 May.

In an unusual move, the bishops added their national identity numbers to the document to make their sentiments official, joining a formal petition process to parliament by civic society.

“Constitutional amendments must strengthen rather than weaken democratic safeguards, public confidence in institutions, and the constitutional protections deliberately entrenched by the people of Zimbabwe,” the bishops said.

ZANU-PF has opposed calls for a referendum and instead seeks to push the constitutional amendments through parliament, where it enjoys a majority.

The bishops said they were “deeply concerned that several provisions of the constitutional amendment bill undermine foundational constitutional principles, weaken institutional independence, diminish direct democratic participation, and erode constitutional safeguards against the concentration and abuse of power”.

Several activists opposed to the amendment have been arrested, while others have been assaulted by suspected state security agents.

“The conference therefore respectfully urges parliament to reject those provisions of the bill that are inconsistent with constitutional democracy, the sovereignty of the people and the long-term stability and integrity of Zimbabwe’s constitutional order,” the bishops said. 

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