The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has renewed its demand for a national referendum on the recently enacted Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Act No. 3 of 2026 (CAA3), arguing that the legislation has intensified political and constitutional divisions instead of resolving concerns over its legitimacy.
In a pastoral letter released on Monday under the theme “A Call to Constitutional Fidelity, Peace, and National Cohesion,” the church body said the enactment of the amendment on 7 July had failed to end public disagreement over the law. Instead, it said, the amendment has fuelled legal challenges and heightened tensions across the country.
The ZCC noted that several individuals and organisations have already approached the Constitutional Court to contest the validity of the Act, while some citizens have indicated plans to organise demonstrations against the legislation.
According to the council, these developments highlight the need for calm and responsible leadership rather than political confrontation. It described Zimbabwe’s Constitution as a shared national covenant that should unite citizens instead of becoming a source of division.
The church organisation has consistently opposed aspects of the constitutional amendment process. During parliamentary debates on Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3, the ZCC maintained that proposed changes affecting presidential and parliamentary terms, presidential succession and constitutional term-limit protections required approval through a national referendum in line with Section 328 of the Constitution.
