ZCC calls for Independent Constitution Commission

The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) is calling for the establishment of an Independent Constitution Amendment Commission to conduct broad and meaningful consultations regarding amendments to the country’s constitution, free from institutional self-interest. This call emerged after the church body formally submitted its input to Parliament at Mt Hampden on Monday, firmly opposing the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. In its submissions, the ecumenical body representing 32 member denominations and a constituency of at least three million citizens, warned that the amendment bill in its current form poses grave harm to democratic governance and national development.

TheConstitutional Amendment Bill No. 3has drawn sharp public scrutiny over several proposed changes, most notably are the infamous Clauses 2 and 3 that propose shifting the election of the President to a parliamentary system and extending the presidential term from five to seven years respectively. Central to the ZCC’s submission were three sets of recommendations that challenged Parliament’s authority to unilaterally enact changes of such constitutional magnitude.

First, the Council called for the immediate withdrawal or substantial revision of the Bill, stating that “the amendments in their current form are constitutionally, morally, and democratically compromised.” Secondly, the ZCC demanded the creation of an Independent Constitution Amendment Commission. “Amendments of this nature require a dedicated, independent commission mandated to undertake broad, meaningful consultations rooted in the will of the people,” the submission read, “free from the conflict of interest that arises when the institutions advancing the Bill are its direct beneficiaries.” Thirdly, the church body insisted that if the Bill proceeds in any form resembling its current structure, a national referendum is mandatory. “The Bill fundamentally alters the 2013 Constitution and provides for term extensions benefiting current incumbents,” the ZCC argued, noting that it engaged in prayerful reflection and stakeholder consultation, . The ZCC, describing itself as a “Watchman” taken from the Biblical (Ezekiel 3:17) a role that compels the Church to speak when it sees the “nation walking toward harm” said the Bill “opens the door to corruption and the massive, unchecked accumulation of wealth by those in power.” ZCC lamented that the Bill removes accountability mechanisms and extends the period during which power can be exercised without democratic renewal.