AFRICA/ZIMBABWE – Bishops: The proposed constitutional amendment challenges the very foundation of our shared life together”

Harare – “The proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill, 2026, challenges the very foundation of our shared life together,” reads a statement from the Zimbabwean Bishops’ Conference . The proposed constitutional amendment includes extending the terms of office for the president and parliament from five to seven years, thus extending the term of 84-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa until 2030. The draft law proposes to replace the direct election of the president by the people with a parliamentary election of the Head of State and to transfer control of the executive branch to the most important state institutions.
In their statement of March 19, the bishops explain that the proposed constitutional amendment “raises profound questions about governance, trust, and the common good-the conditions that enable every person and community to flourish in dignity and peace.” The bishops emphasize: “Our Constitution is more than law; it is a solemn covenant, born from the overwhelming will of Zimbabweans in 2013, embodying our collective hopes for justice, unity, peace, and prosperity.” The current constitution was adopted in 2013, after President Robert Mugabe had been in power for 33 years. To counter his authoritarianism and the pervasive influence of his party, the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front , the 2013 constitution introduced a two-term presidential limit and provisions to ensure impartiality in the appointment of judges and the attorney general. In addition, five independent commissions were established: the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission , the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission , the Zimbabwe Gender Commission , the Zimbabwe Media Commission , and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission . The bishops recall that “all legitimate authority flows from the people.” “This truth, rooted in our humanity and echoed in sacred wisdom, was reaffirmed in the 2023 elections, when citizens entrusted leaders with a five-year mandate ending in 2028,” they affirm. “As Scripture teaches, governing powers are “instituted by God” to serve the good of all, not themselves. Yet proposals that shift power from the electorate to a few-such as weakening direct presidential elections, extending terms without fresh consent, or bypassing safeguards like referendums-diminish this sacred trust,” the members of the Bishops’ Conference declared. The message concludes by emphasizing the importance of strong and independent institutions for a peaceful and democratic country. “Peace endures not by force, but through fair, transparent, and independent institutions,” the bishops stressed. “Elections, justice, and reconciliation bodies must serve every citizen equally, fostering healing in our divided land.” “Weakening electoral oversight, judicial appointments, or commissions for peace erodes public confidence and deepens wounds,” the bishops warned.

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