ZCC calls for CAA3 referendum amid Zimbabwe polarisation

• The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has renewed its call for a national referendum on CAA3 due to concerns over deepening national polarisation.
• The council argues that institutions which stand to benefit from CAA3 cannot credibly lead the process of consulting on it.
• A dedicated, independent commission is needed to undertake broad, meaningful consultations rooted in the will of the people.
• A referendum would be an expression of confidence in the people and a safeguard of legitimacy.

A host of court applications have been filed by citizens and organisations challenging the validity of the Act, while other citizens have expressed an intention to exercise their constitutional right to demonstrate.

The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has renewed its call for a national referendum on the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Act No. 3 of 2026 (CAA3), citing concerns over deepening national polarisation. The council's pastoral letter, titled 'A Call to Constitutional Fidelity, Peace, and National Cohesion,' was released on Monday. This is not the first time the ZCC has expressed its opposition to CAA3; throughout the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3, the church body maintained that changes touching presidential and parliamentary terms should have gone to a public vote under section 328 of the constitution. The council's position was shared with the broader Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations grouping, which includes the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, and UDACIZA.

The ZCC's call for a referendum on CAA3 has sparked controversy, with some church voices supporting the bill. The Indigenous churches under the Zimbabwe Indigenous Interdenominational Council of Churches (ZIICC) broke ranks in May, submitting a statement in support of the bill and rejecting calls for its withdrawal. However, the ZCC argues that institutions which stand to benefit from CAA3 cannot credibly lead the process of consulting on it. The council is urging restraint from all sides in the ongoing litigation before the Constitutional Court, including applications challenging CAA3's validity. The ZCC also addressed the prospect of street protests against the amendment, affirming citizens' constitutional right to demonstrate.

The ZCC's call for a referendum on CAA3 highlights concerns over national polarisation and the legitimacy of the law. The council argues that a dedicated, independent commission is needed to undertake broad, meaningful consultations rooted in the will of the people. A referendum would not be an act of weakness but rather an expression of confidence in the people, a safeguard of legitimacy, and a means of reducing division. Lawyers and compliance officers should monitor developments and advise clients accordingly, as the ZCC's call for a referendum may lead to further litigation.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware that the ZCC's call for a referendum on CAA3 may lead to further litigation, including potential Constitutional Court applications challenging the law's validity. They should monitor developments and advise clients accordingly.

Source: Original reporting via Zimbabwean news outlet