Church Demands Referendum on Constitutional Overhaul

The Zimbabwe Council of Churches renewed its call for a national referendum on Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3, insisting that only the people can legitimize such sweeping changes, ZimEye reports. The ecumenical body demanded a national dialogue and respect for the rule of law, warning that bypassing the constitution erodes national unity. The government pushed through CAA3 without a public vote, sparking accusations of unilateral power grabs that could extend presidential tenure and weaken judicial independence. Opposition groups and civil society have rallied behind the church’s stance, framing the amendment as a threat to democratic checks and balances. The church’s intervention exposes the regime’s vulnerability to moral authority, as faith-based institutions become the last bastion of constitutional resistance, capable of mobilizing broad-based dissent.