CONSTITUTION Defenders Forum (CDF) has asked Parliament to reconvene public hearings on Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (No.3) (H.B.1, 2026) so as to ensure that the public can effectively, reasonably and adequately express their views on the provisions of the proposed controversial legislation.
In a letter written on Friday 10 April 2026 to Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Jacob Mudenda, CDF, which is a voluntary, non-political civic group, which serves as a platform for willing Zimbabweans to collaborate in defending the Constitution, promoting constitutionalism and advancing constitutional rights, democracy and the rule of law, complained that the public hearings on Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (No.3) (H.B.1, 2026), held from 30 March 2026 to 2 April 2026, were woefully inadequate for members of the public to be properly involved in the legislative process and were not conducive for members of the public to express their views.
To support its argument, CDF charged that Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (No.3) (H.B.1, 2026) seeks to make far reaching and drastic changes to the Constitution, which changes the basic structure of the country’s supreme law and the state.
However, CDF said despite the crucial importance of Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (No.3) (H.B.1, 2026), some of the public hearings were characterised by intimidation, heckling, threats, chaos, harassment, and violence and assault against citizens, who expressed views critical of the proposed law and which had a chilling effect on some members of the public who wished to participate in the process.
The constitutional preservationists, who are represented by Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Kelvin Kabaya of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, protested that the public hearings appeared to be choreographed in favour of individuals, who were speaking in favour of the proposed Bill as they were allowed the opportunity to express their views while those who were opposed or deemed to be opposed to the Bill were deprived of the opportunity to speak during the public hearings.
CDF said its concerns were also echoed by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, an independent commission in its report relating to the public hearings on Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (No.3) (H.B.1, 2026).
CDF said its members and other Zimbabwean citizens have a right to participate in the public affairs of the country in terms of the provisions of section 67(1)(d) of the Constitution, which confers the right of individuals to participate in gatherings or in any other manner in order to influence government policies.
Parliament, CDF said, has an obligation in terms of the provisions of section 328(4) of the Constitution, to convene public meetings to enable citizens to express their views on Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (No.3) (H.B.1, 2026) and has a further obligation in terms of section 328(4) of the Constitution to provide facilities which enables citizens to participate in the public meetings.
In light of this, CDF concluded that the public hearings, which were conducted recently, did not reasonably, adequately and properly facilitate public participation in the legislation processes of Parliament and did not also fully and reasonably enable citizens to express themselves regarding Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (No.3) (H.B.1, 2026).
CDF stated that failure to reconvene the public hearings on Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (No.3) (H.B.1, 2026) and persisting with the public hearings as conducted amounts to a failure by Parliament to fulfil its constitutional obligations in terms of sections 328(4) and 141 (a) of the Constitution.
CDF demanded that Parliament should reconvene the public hearings relating to Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (No.3) (H.B.1, 2026) before the 90-day period within which the public can express their views through public hearings lapses around 18 May 2026 and also asked Parliament to hold in abeyance any further parliamentary processes relating to enactment of the proposed law.
Parliament, CDF said, should also take all measures, including but not limited to, the provision of heightened security at the reconvened public hearings to ensure that the public can effectively, reasonably and adequately express their views on the provisions of Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (No.3) (H.B.1, 2026).
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