The People's Coalition Launched to Oppose Constitution Amendment No. 3, Calls for National Referendum

Harare – A broad coalition of civic organisations, labour unions, churches, constitutional advocacy groups, war veterans, women, youth, students and political organisations has launched Sungano yeVanhu/Ubumbano Lomphakathi (The People's Coalition), declaring a nationwide campaign to oppose Constitution Amendment Bill No.3.

The grouping has also says that any fundamental changes to Zimbabwe's Constitution be decided through a national referendum.

The coalition officially launched in Harare on Friday, June 3, by its convenor Reverend Dr. Kupa Mtata who says the movement has been formed to defend the 2013 Constitution and uphold the principle that constitutional authority belongs to the people.

Speaking at the launch, Reverend Mtata says the coalition is founded on the belief that the Constitution is "the people's covenant" and cannot legitimately be rewritten without the consent of Zimbabweans.

"The Constitution is not the property of Government, it does not belong to Parliament, it does not belong to any political partu, it belongs to the people of Zimbabwe, from whom all public authority derives," he says.

The coalition says it rejects Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3 "in its entirety", arguing that it fundamentally alters Zimbabwe's constitutional architecture.

It also calls on President Emmerson Mnangagwa not to assent to the Bill, urging him instead to refer it to a national referendum.

The launch also marks the beginning of a national campaign under the slogan "Let the People Decide", which the coalition says is intends to mobilise citizens to peacefully defend the Constitution and insist that major constitutional changes should only take effect after receiving direct public approval.

As part of its programme of action, the coalition announces that its Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee would return to the Constitutional Court to seek a determination on constitutional issues it says had previously been considered premature.

It also says should domestic legal remedies fail, it intends to file a complaint before the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, arguing that the amendment process amounts to what it describes as a constitutional coup.

The coalition further announces nationwide consultations ahead of a proposed National Day of Peaceful Civic Action to be held in accordance with Section 59 of the Constitution.

The date and programme will be announced after consultations are completed, the coalition says.

Dr. Mtata describes the current period as Zimbabwe's "Constitutional Winter of Discontent", stressing that the campaign would remain peaceful and lawful.

"This is not a call for violence, it is not a call for disorder, it is not a call for lawlessness.

"It is a call for sustained, peaceful, disciplined and constitutional civic engagement until the sovereignty of the people is fully respected," he says.

The coalition says its work will be coordinated through eight standing committees covering legal affairs, communications, mobilisation, youth, women, regional and international relations, solidarity and security.

Among the coalition's founding institutions are the Defend the Constitution Platform, Constitution Defence Forum, National Constitutional Assembly, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Zimbabwe Constitution Movement and the War Veterans Pressure Group.

The coalition also announces its first goodwill ambassadors, namely David Coltart, the Mayor of Bulawayo and Reverend Mboneni Ncube, National Coordinator of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches.

In its closing appeal, the coalition calls on Zimbabweans from all political, religious and social backgrounds to unite in defence of constitutional democracy, saying, "The Constitution belongs to the people. Let the people decide."