Harare – The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has formally opposed the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No. 3 (2026), warning that the proposed changes are “constitutionally, morally, and democratically compromised” and calling for a national referendum if the Bill proceeds in its current form.

In a submission to Parliament on 13 April 2026, the ZCC – representing 32 member denominations with a combined reach of at least 3 million citizens – said the amendments risk harming both the nation and the legacy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“The ZCC, acting as a Watchman (Ezekiel 3:17), a role that compels the Church to speak when it sees the nation walking toward harm and after prayerful reflection and stakeholder consultation,” the council stated, listing three general recommendations.

First, the ZCC demanded that the Bill be “withdrawn or substantially revised,” arguing that the amendments in their current form benefit incumbents who are advancing the legislation.

Second, the council called for the establishment of an independent Constitution Amendment Commission mandated to undertake broad, meaningful consultations “free from the conflict of interest that arises when the institutions advancing the Bill are its direct beneficiaries.”

Third, the ZCC said that if the Bill proceeds without withdrawal or substantial revision, “a national referendum is mandatory.”

“The Bill fundamentally alters the 2013 Constitution and provides for term extensions benefiting current incumbents. This requires direct citizen consent – not parliamentary approval by those who benefit from it,” the council stated.

The ZCC’s opposition adds significant religious and civil society weight to debate over Amendment Bill No. 3, which has not yet been publicly released in full but is understood to propose changes to presidential term limits – a sensitive issue in Zimbabwe’s post-2017 political landscape.

The council’s submission was tagged with the hashtag #ConversationsOfHope, signalling an ongoing civic engagement campaign.

Parliament has not yet announced its response to the ZCC’s recommendations. The Bill remains under consideration.