Solidarity with Zimbabwe as Independence Day is marked by protests against Government’s ‘constitutional coup’ and crackdown

Today, on Zimbabwe Independence Day, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) stands with the people of Zimbabwe, both in country and in the diaspora, as they oppose attempts to unconstitutionally extend the President’s term in office and challenge the Government’s escalating crackdown on dissent.  

Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (also known as CAB3) seeks to extend the president’s term and that of Parliament by two years, which would result in postponement of the 2028 elections to 2030. This would extend President Mnangagwa’s term of office without a referendum or seeking approval from citizens. This is in violation of Section 328 of the Constitution.  

Clause 2 of the Bill repeals Section 92 of the constitution and replaces it with a parliamentary process for electing the president. Other proposed changes include scrapping the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) and shifting responsibilities away from the Electoral Commission, putting its independence at risk.  

Concerns were raised in the UK Parliament on 14th April by Baroness Hoey, Lord Bruce of Bennachie, Viscount Hanworth, Lord Howell of Guildford, the Lord Bishop of Southwark, Lord Callanan, Lord Hain, and Lord Hayward.  ACTSA Honorary Vice President raised that “Zimbabwe’s president is intrinsically involved in the criminality at the heart of the state”.

Mnangagwa, who first came to power in 2017 after a military coup ousted long-time leader Robert Mugabe, won a presidential election the next year and a second term in 2023 – though the results were disputed.  

In 2013, when Mugabe’s grip on power seemed entrenched after ruling since 1980, Zimbabweans overwhelmingly voted for a new constitution that introduced presidential term limits. Government has insisted that there is no need for a referendum to pass the proposed amendments via Parliament, where Zanu PF has a two-thirds majority. 

Attempts to oppose these proposed changes have seen a violent and escalating crackdown by the government. In October of last year a coalition of opponents to the change trying to organise a press conference were chased from venue to venue by police, and finally arrested – along with journalists – when they finally tried to give a press conference outside a venue. The situation has only escalated since then, with the government banning meetings to discuss the changes and a series of abductions and intimidation tactics targetting civic leaders and politicians taking place.  

ACTSA advisory council member Makomborero Haruzivishe said: “Let us not allow Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zimbabwe to become Ian Smith’s Southern Rhodesia. The arrests of Tendai Biti, Morgan Ncube, Emmanuel Sitima, Takunda Mhuka, the attacks on Gilbert Mutubuki and Doug Coltart together with many more Constitution Defenders Forum members constitute a brazen, shameless ZANU-PF persecution to crush dissent against CAB3. This ruthless terror mirrors Smith’s power grab. The people reject this grotesque dictatorship tool disguised as a constitutional amendment bill 3 and demand a referendum.”

ACTSA Director Rachel Palma Randle said: “The escalating repression in Zimbabwe of anyone who dares to question or even discuss President Mnangagwa’s ‘constitutional coup’ is alarming. These proposals are clearly a power grab from a president whose term is almost up and go against the constitution. ACTSA stands with Zimbabwe civil society as it calls for a refendum, as mandated by the constitution, and an end to the violent repression of its right to oppose these changes, which has no place in a so-called democracy. The UK must use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to support the Zimbabwean people’s rights to human rights and democratic freedoms.”