Diaspora Sends a Letter to President Mnangagwa on Voting Rights and Term Extension
The Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative (ZDVI) has issued an open letter to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, arguing that Constitutional Amendment Number 3, which proposes extending terms of office, is legally invalid without a national referendum. The group urges the government to prioritize amending the Electoral Act to enable diaspora voting over costly constitutional changes
Harry Taruva 
Harare, Zimbabwe - A prominent diaspora advocacy group has formally petitioned President Emmerson Mnangagwa to withdraw a controversial constitutional bill that seeks to extend presidential and parliamentary terms, arguing the move is legally flawed and ignores long-standing promises to enfranchise Zimbabweans living abroad.
In an open letter dated March 3, 2026, the Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative (ZDVI) asserted that the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, which proposes lengthening terms from five to seven years, cannot be enacted without being subjected to a national referendum.
The ZDVI, represented by Chair Rosewiter Mangiroza, contends that the Cabinet erred in approving the Bill for gazetting without a clear provision for a public vote.
The organization cited Section 328 of the Constitution, which mandates that any amendment extending the time a person may occupy public office must be decided by the electorate.
"From our understanding of the Constitution, amendments to the Constitution which extend the length of time that a person may hold or occupy any public office have to be subjected to a referendum," the letter states.
The group further noted that prominent legal experts and even senior officials within the ruling Zanu PF party have previously acknowledged the necessity of a referendum for such changes.
They specifically referenced 2024 remarks by Patrick Chinamasa regarding the dual-referendum requirement for term extensions.
Beyond the legal technicalities, the ZDVI criticized the government’s focus on term extensions while failing to implement the Diaspora Vote, a reform President Mnangagwa reportedly promised shortly after taking office in 2018.
The organization argued that amending the Electoral Act to allow citizens abroad to vote would be a far more cost-effective and democratic priority than a resource-heavy referendum.
The organisation said the country lacks the financial capacity for a referendum when other legislative commitments remain unfulfilled.
They said the diaspora’s significant role in national development, reflected in the annual budget, justifies the prioritization of their voting rights and section 67 of the Constitution is "unambiguous" regarding the right of every citizen over 18 to vote in all elections and referendums.
The letter calls on President Mnangagwa to uphold his constitutional mandate to "defend, obey, and respect" the supreme law by withdrawing the current Bill.
The ZDVI suggested that the legislation be should be redrafted to properly include the constitutionally required referendum processes or be abandoned in favor of more pressing electoral reforms.
