By Rumbidzai Thelma Chidewu
Member of: Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF UK),
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO)
20th May 2026
Zimbabwe stands at one of its most critical moments since
the adoption of its landmark 2013 Constitution. On the surface, the economy is stabilising,
inflation has fallen sharply, the local currency is more stable, and growth is
picking up. But beneath this progress, a fierce battle is unfolding over the
country’s future — one that centres on proposed changes to the very foundation
of the nation’s law, and a growing movement determined to defend it.
At the heart of the debate is Constitutional Amendment No. 3
(CAB3), a bill tabled by the ruling ZANU‑PF party in February 2026. If
passed, it will extend the term of the President and Parliament from five to
seven years, effectively delaying the next harmonised election from 2028 to
2030. It also proposes changing how the President is elected — moving from a direct popular
vote to selection by members of Parliament — and expanding the number of appointed senators,
strengthening the ruling party’s
hold on power. Critics warn this would allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa,
already in his final permitted term, to remain in office until at least 2030,
and potentially longer, in direct violation of the limits enshrined just over a
decade ago.
The government defends the changes as necessary for long‑term
planning and economic stability, arguing that five‑year terms
are too short to deliver major infrastructure and development projects. But for
thousands of citizens, civil society groups, and organisations like the
Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF), Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR), and the
Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO), this is not reform — it is a fundamental attack on
democracy, the rule of law, and the fundamental rights of every Zimbabwean.
✊ View from the Ground: An
Activist’s Perspective
As an activist working with CDF UK, ROHR, and ZHRO — and as
a Zimbabwean committed to justice and our country’s future — I see things
clearly. This is not just politics; this is about protecting the very soul of
our nation and the rights we are entitled to.
“To us, as human rights defenders and constitutional
activists, CAB3 is not an amendment. It is a theft — a calculated plan to strip
away the power we gave ourselves in 2013. That constitution was not written by
politicians; it was written by the people, after years of struggle, debate, and
sacrifice. It was crafted specifically to limit power, guarantee freedoms of
speech, assembly, and association, and ensure no one — no party, no leader —
could rule forever or act above the law. Now they want to tear it up just to
stay in office longer. That is not reform; it is a power grab, plain and
simple, and it strikes directly at the human rights frameworks we fight daily
to uphold.
Through my work with ROHR, we have always stood for the
restoration of rights eroded over decades. This amendment destroys the very
document that guarantees those rights. Through ZHRO, we document violations and
advocate for dignity and safety for all citizens — yet this law would give the
state even more power to silence dissent, control elections, and avoid
accountability. And with CDF, our mission is clear: defend the Constitution
because without it, there is no protection for anyone.
We are non‑partisan — that is our strength. We do not march for MDC, ZANU‑PF,
or any party. We march for the law that protects all Zimbabweans, regardless of
who they vote for, what they believe, or where they live. We say: if you
believe in freedom, if you believe in fair elections, if you believe in human
rights — stand with us.
Our movement includes lawyers, teachers, nurses, clergy, academics, other
professionals, students, elders, men, women, people from every background — united only by the fact that
we refuse to let our hard‑won freedoms be erased.
The public hearings held by Parliament in March were a
mockery of justice. Rushed, only four days long, venues too small to
accommodate even a fraction of those who wanted to speak, voices shouted down,
critics barred or silenced completely. They pretended to consult us, but the
outcome was decided before it even began. That is not how you change the
supreme law of the land. That is how dictators operate, and it violates every
principle of transparency and participation we uphold as human rights organisations.
We know the risks all too well. Inside Zimbabwe, our
colleagues and members are arrested, beaten, abducted, or barred from meeting.
We see activists hounded, threatened, or fired from their jobs just for
speaking the truth. Even here in the UK and elsewhere in the diaspora, we are
watched, harassed online, labelled ‘opposition’ or ‘terrorists’ just because we
defend the law and human dignity. But fear cannot stop us — because if we stay
quiet now, what will be left for our children? What rights will they have to
fight for?
We are not just protesting. We are building. Through our
organisations, we plan carefully: how to coordinate more effectively across
borders, how to reach young people and women disproportionately affected by
repression, how to document violations, and how to speak with one clear voice.
We know we face challenges: travel costs, distance, misinformation spread by
the state, and people tired and hopeless after years of economic hardship and
abuse. But we also know that unity is our greatest weapon. We are linking up
with civil society across the world, talking to legal experts, engaging with
international bodies like the UN, SADC, and the African Commission on Human and
Peoples’ Rights, and making sure the world sees what is really happening to
democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe.
And we firmly reject the idea that ‘economic growth’
justifies destroying democracy or rights. Yes, inflation is down. Yes, there is
more investment in mining and agriculture. But for whom? Most people still
cannot afford bread, access clean water, get healthcare, or find work. The
wealth stays with the same few people who have plundered our resources for
decades. And if they change the constitution, they will legalise their control
and plunder forever. You cannot have real prosperity without freedom, without
trust, without rules that apply to everyone — including those in power.
Development without rights is not progress; it is exploitation.
We say clearly: CAB3 must be stopped. The constitution
belongs to us, not to politicians. Human rights are not privileges to be
granted or taken away by the state. We will march, we will document, we will
advocate, we will speak out, and we will not rest until our rights are safe,
our votes matter, our people are free from fear, and Zimbabwe belongs again to
its people.”
The Movement to Defend the Constitution and Rights
Organisations like CDF UK, ROHR, and ZHRO have emerged as
vital pillars of the resistance, working in solidarity to highlight that
constitutional integrity and human rights are inseparable. These groups define
themselves as strictly non‑partisan: not aligned to any
political party, but united solely in defence of the 2013 Constitution and the
universal rights it enshrines. Their work — from demonstrations in London and across the UK, to
documentation of abuses, legal advocacy, and coordination with civil society
worldwide — mirrors efforts inside Zimbabwe, where activists face extreme risk
to organise, march, and speak out.
The resistance has come at a high cost. Since the bill was
announced, there have been widespread reports of arrests, detentions, and
intimidation targeting human rights defenders and activists. Leaders have been
detained while organising peaceful gatherings; civic meetings have been banned
under sweeping public order laws; and journalists and protesters have faced
harassment and violence. Public hearings held by Parliament in March were
widely criticised as rushed, incomplete, and biased, with many critical voices
barred or silenced — prompting organisations like ours to demand the process be
restarted in a fair, inclusive, and transparent manner that respects the right
to be heard.
The movement faces practical challenges too: coordinating
across cities and countries, covering travel and logistics costs, ensuring
members' safety, and countering state‑sponsored misinformation.
Strengthening youth and women’s
participation, building better communication structures, and keeping the
message — “defend the constitution,
protect human rights, not political parties” —
clear and unifying remain top priorities.
Economy: Numbers Up, Trust Down
Against this political and human rights tension, the
economic picture is mixed and complex. Officially, things are improving.
Inflation has dropped to around 4%, down from triple digits just a year ago,
and the ZiG currency is far more stable, backed by gold and mineral reserves.
The economy grew by 6.6% in 2025 and is projected to expand by roughly 5% this
year, driven by agriculture, mining — including booming lithium and gold
exports — and growing interest from foreign investors. In April 2026, the
International Monetary Fund approved a key monitoring programme, seen as the
first major step toward re‑engaging with global finance and
resolving the country’s
$21.5 billion debt burden, while the African Development Bank has provided
funding to clear arrears and restart talks.
Yet for most Zimbabweans, these gains have not translated
into better lives or greater freedom. Unemployment remains among the highest in
the world; public services — water, electricity, healthcare — remain broken or
unreliable; and poverty is widespread. Even with prices more stable, wages have
not kept pace, and many families still struggle to afford basic goods.
Crucially, investors and international partners have warned that progress could
be derailed entirely by the constitutional fight and the deteriorating human
rights situation. The IMF, Western governments, and credit rating agencies have
all signalled that extending terms, altering electoral rules, and suppressing
freedoms will risk cutting off support, triggering capital flight, and undoing
the fragile recovery already underway. As one analyst put it: “The economy can
only thrive if people trust the rules of the game — and right now, those rules
are being rewritten to benefit only the powerful.”
What Lies Ahead
The coming months will decide Zimbabwe’s direction.
Parliament is expected to vote on CAB3 in mid‑2026, and with ZANU‑PF
holding a two‑thirds majority, the bill is likely to pass unless
there is significant pressure, legal intervention, or regional and
international pushback. Civil society groups, including CDF, ROHR, and ZHRO,
are preparing for all scenarios: challenging the law in court, documenting
every violation, organising larger and more coordinated protests, and building
stronger links with regional bodies like SADC and the African Union, as well as
with the international community, to demand respect for the constitution and for
human rights.
For the movement, the message remains simple and powerful:
the constitution belongs to everyone, and it must not be changed to suit the
powerful; human rights belong to every person and must never be compromised.
The role of the diaspora — including activists in the UK — is vital: to keep
the issue visible, to raise awareness, to amplify voices that are silenced
inside Zimbabwe, and to stand in unbreakable solidarity with those fighting on
the ground.
Zimbabwe is not just choosing between two versions of a law.
It is choosing what kind of country it will be: one where power is limited,
terms are fixed, rights are respected, and the people are sovereign — or one
where rules are changed when convenient, freedoms are erased, and voices are
silenced when they dissent.
For millions of us — defenders of the constitution,
restorers of human rights, advocates for justice — the answer is clear: the
constitution must be defended, and human rights must prevail.
As the diaspora, we know that we have a huge responsibility
to speak against the shenanigans and brutality of the regime.
The struggle continues.
#NoTo2030
#CAB3
#NoToCAB3
#No2CAB3
#Zimbabwe
#HumanRights
#ROHRZimbabwe
About the author
Rumbidzai Thelma Chidewu is
a human rights activist based in the United Kingdom. She is a member of the Constitution
Defenders Forum (CDF UK), Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwe
Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO). She can be contacted by email at rumbidzaithelmazhanje@gmail.com
