Published: 7 hours ago

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has rejected the results of public consultations on Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), alleging that the process was manipulated to create an artificial impression of overwhelming public support for the proposed constitutional changes.

The party's response follows the release of a report by Parliament's joint portfolio committees on the Constitution Amendment (No. 3) Bill, which detailed submissions received during nationwide consultations.

According to the report, 537,102 people supported the Bill, while 2,935 opposed it.

In a statement, MDC national spokesperson Lloyd Damba dismissed the figures, arguing that they did not accurately reflect the views of Zimbabweans.

"Parliament has released results claiming 537,102 citizens support CAB3 against only 2,935 opposed. The MDC rejects these numbers as a fraud, not a reflection of the people's will," Damba said.

"A bill that seeks to remove your right to vote, drag chiefs into partisan politics and hand voter registration to the Attorney General cannot win the hearts of 99.5% of Zimbabweans."

CAB3 has generated significant debate across the country, with supporters arguing that the proposed changes would improve governance efficiency and reduce the costs associated with elections. Critics, however, contend that some provisions could weaken democratic institutions and increase executive influence over key state functions.

Damba alleged that the consultation process was heavily influenced by ruling party structures and traditional leaders.

"This is not a consultation. It is coercion," he said.

"The ‘landslide' was manufactured through village heads, chiefs and Zanu-PF-affiliated structures that threatened villagers, bused supporters to hearings and flooded email platforms with identical submissions."

He further claimed that some citizens were reluctant to express opposition to the Bill because they feared reprisals.

"When citizens face threats of land confiscation, grain denial or violence for saying ‘no', the results will always favour the bullies," Damba said.

The MDC challenged both Parliament and the government to subject the proposed constitutional amendments to a national referendum.

"If Parliament truly believes its own numbers, then let the people decide. We dare Zanu-PF to call a national referendum on CAB3," Damba said.

"Put the bill to a secret ballot and let Zimbabweans vote without chiefs, village heads or intimidation watching over their shoulders."

The opposition party said it would continue campaigning against the Bill, maintaining that the consultation outcome did not represent the views of all Zimbabweans.

The controversy has also drawn reactions from civil society organisations, some of which have questioned the figures contained in the parliamentary report and called for greater transparency and independent verification of the consultation results.

The parliamentary report is expected to play a significant role as legislators continue debating CAB3, one of the most consequential constitutional amendment proposals since the adoption of Zimbabwe's 2013 Constitution.
- NewsDay

You might also want to read this

• MDC fires Shakespeare Mukoyi
• Fight for MDC offices spills to High Court
• Mwonzora extends olive branch to former MDC members
• Mudzuri moves to oust Mwonzora from MDC headquarters
• MDC defends Vic Falls excursion
• Defiant MDC dismisses demo ban
• MDC MPs lose allowances
• MDC renews push for diaspora vote
• Critical day for Chamisa, MDC
• MDC fights Jacob Mudenda over allowances