Tinotenda Hove – The Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) has strongly condemned the violence and disruptions that have plagued the ongoing public hearings on the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, describing the entire process as deeply flawed and illegitimate.

In a press statement issued on April 1, 2026, the civic group said the disturbances have undermined the integrity of the hearings, raising serious concerns about whether citizens are being given a fair and meaningful opportunity to express their views.

“The Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) strongly condemns the violent incidents that have marred the ongoing public hearings on Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3,” the statement read.

CDF said the reported violence and systematic disruptions have effectively turned the consultation process into what it termed “a complete farce,” arguing that such conditions make it impossible to genuinely capture the will of the people.

“The violence and systematic disruptions have rendered the public hearings a complete farce,” the organisation said.

As a result, CDF declared the entire process constitutionally unsound and lacking legitimacy.

“The current process is therefore constitutionally defective and fundamentally illegitimate,” the statement added.
The organisation is now calling for urgent action, including the immediate suspension of the hearings. It further urged authorities to adopt a more transparent and inclusive approach by allowing citizens to directly decide on the matter through a referendum.

“CDF calls for the immediate suspension of these public hearings and urges that the matter be properly and lawfully addressed through a national referendum, ensuring that the will of the people is genuinely and transparently ascertained,” the statement said.

The remarks come amid growing criticism from various civic groups and political actors who have raised alarm over the conduct of the public hearings, with concerns centering on alleged intimidation, exclusion, and lack of transparency.

CDF reiterated its stance under the campaign hashtags “#DefendTheConstitution,” “#NoTo2030,” “#hatshiku2030,” and “#taramba2030,” signaling continued resistance to the proposed constitutional changes under the current process.