15/02/2026
I’ve been seeing a lot of debate, fear, and misinformation around the proposed constitutional amendments in Zimbabwe, and honestly, many people are reacting emotionally without understanding how constitutions and law-making actually work. Some politicians are deliberately gaslighting people because they know most citizens don’t read the Constitution or understand the legal process.
Let me explain this in simple terms from what I have researched and understood. First, these amendments are mainly about governance structures, including how leadership is selected, how institutions function, and how the state is organised. This does not automatically remove democracy. Many democratic countries do not directly elect a President or Prime Minister; countries like South Africa, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Canada, and Australia use parliamentary systems where Parliament chooses the head of government. Democracy is not only about directly voting for a President; it is about institutions, rule of law, Parliament, courts, and majority rule.
Now, let me explain how this Bill actually becomes law in Zimbabwe, because many people think it is being done secretly. The process is clear and constitutional. The Bill is first drafted by the Ministry of Justice and approved by Cabinet. After that, the exact wording must be published in the Government Gazette at least 90 days before Parliament debates it. This is to allow citizens, civil society, political parties, and the media to study and discuss it.
Then it goes to Parliament, where it is introduced, debated, scrutinised clause by clause, and voted on in the National Assembly and again in the Senate. For a constitutional amendment to pass, it does not just need 50%. It needs a very high threshold: at least two-thirds of all Members of Parliament and Senators must vote in favour. If they fail to reach two-thirds, the amendment fails. Even after Parliament passes it, anyone can still challenge it in the Constitutional Court, and the courts can strike it down if it violates constitutional principles. So Parliament is not an unchecked authority.
Many people are shouting that this must go to a referendum or it is illegal. This is simply not true and shows misunderstanding of Section 328 of the Constitution. Only certain protected parts, like the Bill of Rights and entrenched democratic clauses, require a referendum. Other sections, including governance structures and administrative arrangements, can legally be amended by Parliament with a two-thirds majority without a referendum.
Zimbabwe has already amended the Constitution multiple times since 2013 without a referendum, and no court declared those changes illegal. Zimbabwe has only had two major constitutional referendums in recent history, in 2000 and 2013, so the idea that every amendment must go to referendum is misinformation.
Globally, constitutions are not holy books that must never change. The US Constitution has been amended 27 times, India has amended its constitution over 100 times, and South Africa has amended its constitution several times since 1996. Constitutions are living documents that evolve with national realities.
The real debate should not be emotional slogans or fear-mongering, but serious questions like whether these changes strengthen or weaken accountability, whether they improve stability or concentrate power too much, and whether they help long-term development or harm democracy.
My personal view is that big national projects like dams, power stations, railways, education reforms, and industrialisation take 10 to 30 years, while politics works in 5-year cycles that encourage short-term populism instead of long-term nation-building.
Stability, policy continuity, and strong institutions matter for development. You can support or oppose these amendments, and that is your democratic right, but let’s debate with facts, not propaganda, misinformation, or emotions. Ignorance is expensive in politics. Knowledge is power. The choice is yours: follow those who mislead, or seek the truth yourself.
