HARARE, Mar. 19 (NewsDay Live) — Catholic bishops have warned that proposed constitutional changes could undermine democracy, urging President Emmerson Mnangagwa to heed public opinion on the contentious Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3.
In a pastoral letter dated March 19, 2026, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference said political authority must flow from citizens, not be concentrated in the executive.
They called on Mnangagwa to uphold his oft-stated mantra that “the voice of the people is the voice of God.”
“At this critical juncture, we call for calm reflection, moral courage, and honesty,” the bishops said, warning the Bill “challenges the very foundation of our shared life together.”
The church leaders raised concern that some provisions could weaken democratic accountability by shifting power away from voters.
They flagged proposals to scrap direct presidential elections and extend terms of elected officials without a fresh mandate.
“Moving this power to Parliament distances executive authority from the popular will of the people,” the bishops said.