Speaking ahead of the public hearings on the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 3) Bill, 2026, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director, for East and Southern Africa, Vongai Chikwanda, said:
“Amnesty International urges the Zimbabwean authorities to guarantee, without discrimination, the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly during the upcoming public hearings.
“Restriction of public debate before, during, or after public hearings shuts down genuine participation, accountability, and the rule of law. Given past incidents of violence and suppression of dissenting voices, authorities must take concrete measures to ensure all participants can freely express their views and assemble without fear of intimidation, harassment, assault, or arrest.
Amnesty International urges the Zimbabwean authorities to guarantee, without discrimination, the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly during the upcoming public hearings. Restriction of public debate before, during, or after public hearings shuts down genuine participation, accountability, and the rule of law
Vongai Chikwanda, Deputy Regional Director, Amnesty ESARO
“Article 61 of Zimbabwe’s constitution guarantees freedom of expression, rights to peaceful assembly and association, which are key pillars of democratic participation. We urge the authorities to uphold these rights during the upcoming hearings, ensuring any restrictions are lawful, achieve a legitimate aim, and are necessary and proportionate. Overly restrictive or intimidatory measures risk creating a climate of fear and undermining the credibility of the consultative process.”
Background
The Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, 2026, was gazetted on February 16, 2026. The bill, among many proposals, has clauses that seek to extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years, thereby prolonging President Mnangagwa’s tenure until 2030, replacing direct presidential elections with parliamentary selection of the president, and consolidating executive control over key state institutions. Key opponents to the bill, such as National Constitutional Assembly’s Lovemore Madhuku and Constitutional Defenders Forum’s Tendai Biti, have been arrested, detained, and assaulted. Public hearings on the bill will run from 30 March 2026 to 2 April 2026.
