THE Jameson Timba-led Defend the Constitution Platform (DCP) has engaged regional and international bodies over Zimbabwe’s controversial constitutional reforms, escalating pressure for citizens to have a direct say in changes to the nation’s supreme law.
Addressing a Press conference in Harare yesterday, Timba said the platform wrote to the United Nations, the African Union and the Southern African Development Community raising concerns about the proposed
Constitutional Amendment Bill No 3.
He also launched a national petition campaign aimed at forcing the government to subject any fundamental constitutional change to a referendum.
The campaign, titled “One Million Voices for the Constitution,” seeks to mobilise citizens across the country to demand that any amendment to the Constitution be subjected to a national vote.
“This petition represents a simple democratic principle: the Constitution belongs to the people and any fundamental change to it must return to the people through a referendum,” Timba said.
He said the initiative would allow Zimbabweans to directly
express their views on what he described as the question of constitutional legitimacy.
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“Because the Constitution is not merely a domestic political instrument but the foundation of our democratic order, the Defend the Constitution Platform has taken steps to raise these concerns through responsible and lawful international engagement,” Timba said.
“In the spirit of preventive diplomacy we have communicated with the United Nations, the African Union and the Southern African Development Community.
“Our intention is not to internationalise domestic politics but to ensure that Zimbabwe’s constitutional process remains consistent with the democratic commitments that our country has voluntarily subscribed to.”
Timba warned that there was growing concern across Africa over constitutional amendments perceived to be designed to extend incumbency without public consent.
“Zimbabwe must avoid that path,” he said. “The most legitimate solution remains simple: return the question to the people through a referendum.”
The proposed amendments have triggered growing resistance from civic groups, political actors and constitutional advocacy organisations.
Despite the multiplicity of campaigns, Timba said the moment required political actors to set aside organisational identities and work together in defence of constitutional principles.
“The DCP also wishes to publicly indicate its readiness to work with other democratic forces in the country in a united front to defend the Constitution and the homeland,” he said.
“Such a united front must be defined by numerous voices but guided by one message and one action: that the Constitution belongs to the people and that any fundamental alteration to it must return to the people through a national referendum.
“At this moment in our national history, unity around constitutional principles is more important than our individual or organisational identity. It is the people and the republic that matter.”
DCP parliament and political engagement coordinator Agency Gumbo expressed optimism that the controversial Bill can still face resistance in Parliament.
He claimed that some legislators from the ruling Zanu PF had privately expressed disgruntlement over the proposed amendments.
“So it stands to be done, the approach that Parliament is going to take, but this is one of the challenges we are even giving to the leadership of Parliament,” he said.
“When the time comes to vote for the Bill, we will only define a two-thirds majority in a similar fashion as we define the election of the Speaker.
“We will be able to define a two-thirds majority if we can count the exact number of votes cast in support or in opposition to the said amendment.”
He said opposition groups would also demand clarity on how the required parliamentary threshold will be
calculated when the vote is eventually taken.
“When the opportune time comes, they will make the announcement and just like we are making a demand that they must announce the referendum, we are making a demand that there must be clarity as to how the two-thirds majority in Parliament will be and shall be determined,” he said.
