The Zimbabwe Constitutional Movement (Zicomo) notes the voting of the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 in the National Assembly on June 18. According to the official vote count, 216 Members of Parliament voted in support of the Bill, while 42 voted against it.
We commend the 42 Members of Parliament who stood firm in defence of constitutionalism and democratic accountability.
In a political environment where pressure, patronage, and inducements too often shape parliamentary outcomes, these legislators chose principle over expediency.
Their vote will remain part of the parliamentary record as evidence that constitutional conscience has not been entirely extinguished within Zimbabwe's legislature.
At the same time, today's vote lays bare the deepening constitutional crisis confronting our country. A constitutional amendment that further centralises power and weakens democratic safeguards has been advanced through an overwhelming parliamentary majority. More troubling, however, is the role played by elements within the opposition.
The bloc aligned to Sengezo Tshabangu entered Parliament through a process politically engineered, with the active involvement of Zanu PF and the speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda.
Their support for this amendment reinforces concerns that this grouping no longer functions as an independent opposition but as a parliamentary adjunct of the ruling party.
When amendments affecting the architecture of the state are passed with the support of a manufactured opposition, democratic legitimacy is undermined.
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The people of Zimbabwe did not elect Parliament to facilitate the concentration of power. They elected it to uphold, defend, and protect the constitution.
The 42 MPs who voted against the Bill understood this responsibility. Others, including Tshabangu-aligned MPs, chose political convenience over constitutional duty. History will judge that distinction.
Zicomo remains deeply concerned that this amendment is driven not by the national interest but by the interests of a political elite determined to entrench its hold on power.
Zimbabwe's constitution was adopted to limit arbitrary authority, strengthen accountability, and protect citizens from the excesses of unchecked power.
Any attempt to weaken those safeguards represents a betrayal of both the spirit and the letter of the constitution.
The Bill now proceeds to the Senate. We call upon senators to rise above partisan considerations and vote according to their conscience and constitutional oath. This is a defining moment for Zimbabwe's democracy.
We also call upon citizens across the country to remain vigilant, united, and actively engaged in defending constitutionalism.
The protection of the constitution cannot be left to politicians alone. It requires the collective resolve of all Zimbabweans who believe in democratic governance, accountability, and the rule of law.
Zicomo remains unwavering in its commitment to defending constitutionalism and democratic accountability.
We will continue to expose actions that undermine the constitution and stand in solidarity with citizens who insist that the constitution must serve the people, not the interests of those who wield power. - Zicomo
