Zimbabwe Council of Churches rejects Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No 3, citing threats to democracy
via NewsDay Zimbabwe5 min read
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches has expressed strong opposition to the proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No 3, warning that it could undermine democratic institutions, centralize executive power, and impede national progress. In a statement released on Monday, the church body asserted that the Bill poses potential harm to the nation and urged lawmakers to withdraw or significantly revise it. The council's stance follows a four-day nationwide consultation by Parliament to gather public input on the constitutional changes. The ZCC cautioned that weakening systems designed for transparency could lead to corruption and unchecked accumulation of wealth by those in power. They stated that the church cannot support an amendment that compromises public trust, weakens democratic accountability, and deviates from principles of just leadership. While several civil society groups and opposition parties share these concerns, advocating for a public referendum on such far-reaching constitutional changes, loyalists of President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Zanu PF have indicated their intent to proceed despite public disapproval. The Bill notably seeks to extend presidential terms from five to seven years.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by NewsDay Zimbabwe.
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Must ReadZimbabwe has commissioned a specialized honey testing laboratory, a move aimed at enhancing the country's export competitiveness in the honey market. This initiative is expected to support local honey producers in meeting international quality standards and accessing global markets.
Must ReadStanbic Bank has committed US$30,000 to support clean-up initiatives in Victoria Falls. Separately, former legislator Dubeko has filed a challenge with the Constitutional Court regarding President Mnangagwa's term extension. Other news includes government efforts to revive the cotton industry, rising confidence in the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange ZMX with trades reaching US$1.28 million, and a report on ART operations being affected by power outages and raw material shortages, leading to a 6% decline in exports and a 26% decline in paper division volumes in the third quarter to June 2022. Additionally, Zimbabwe has commissioned a specialized honey testing laboratory to enhance export competitiveness.