New coalition declares war on CAB3: ‘They are dismantling the Constitution, not amending it’

A FRESH political front has opened against Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 (CAB3) amid the launch of a new political formation to challenge Zanu PF hegemony.

Launched Friday under the banner Sungano yeVanhu/Ubumbano lomphakathi, or The People’s Coalition, the new coalition walked straight into CAB3 with its boots on. Its opening salvo came from United Theological College Principal, Reverend Kupakwashe Mtata, who accused authorities of ripping up the Constitution and selling Zimbabwe’s democracy for parts.

Speaking at the launch, Mtata did not mince his words. To him, CAB3 isn’t law-making, it is vandalism of the country’s supreme law.

“The process violates the Constitution and undermines Zimbabweans’ covenant as a nation,” Mtata said.

“This is not amendment. It is betrayal.”

The clergyman said the entire constitutional amendment process was flawed, arguing that citizens have been shoved out of the room while their governance is being redrawn behind closed doors.

In Mtata’s view, what is happening with CAB3 tears apart the social contract that holds Zimbabweans together.

The People’s Coalition is a broad alliance of constitutional movements, churches, labour unions, civic groups, war veterans, and political parties. Their common thread emanated from alarm at how constitutional reform was being hijacked to serve power, not people.

Mtata’s attack is the latest in a swelling wave of resistance. Critics say CAB3 is the newest chapter in a familiar playbook that has seen the erosion of democratic safeguards, gut checks on power, and hand more authority to those already holding it.

The coalition brings together founding organisations including the Defend the Constitution Platform (DCP), Constitution Defence Forum (CDF), National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Zimbabwe Constitution Movement (ZICOMO), and the War Veterans Pressure Group.

With CAB3 having sailed through the House of Assembly and Senate and awaiting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s signature, the new coalition says it will pursue both legal and other constitutional means to block is enactment into law.

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