HARARE — A broad alliance of civic groups, labour unions, churches, and war veterans on Friday formally launched Sungano Yevanhu / Ubumbano Lomphakathi (The People’s Coalition) and unveiled a national campaign to block Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3.
The coalition, whose name translates to “The People’s Coalition” in Shona and Ndebele, was launched at a gathering in Harare.
Convenor Reverend Dr Kupa Mtata called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa not to sign the bill into law and instead subject the proposed amendments to a national referendum.
“Only the people of Zimbabwe have the authority to approve fundamental changes to the Constitution,” Mtata said during the launch.“
The group launched the “Let the People Decide” national campaign, arguing that Parliament alone should not alter key provisions of the 2013 Constitution.
The coalition said it will pursue multiple avenues, including returning to the Constitutional Court, petitioning the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights if necessary, and organising a National Day of Peaceful Civic Action.
Founding members include 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.
In a joint founding declaration, the organisations described the coalition as a non-partisan platform representing diverse sections of Zimbabwean society united in defence of constitutional democracy and popular sovereignty. No immediate comment was available from the government or ruling ZANU-PF on Friday afternoon.
The People’s Coalition said it plans further public mobilisation in the coming weeks to press its demand for a referendum.