Zimbabwe civic group urges international bodies to block bid to extend presidency and Parliament terms

The Defend the Constitution Platform called on international organisations to stop proposed constitutional changes that would extend the tenure of Zimbabwe’s presidency and Parliament, citing reports of intimidation and violence around the debate.

The Defend the Constitution Platform has urged international organisations to block planned amendments to Zimbabwe’s constitution that would lengthen the terms of the presidency and Parliament, saying reports of intimidation and violence have emerged around the public debate, according to the group.

The organisation did not provide detailed accounts of the alleged incidents, and the reports could not be independently verified. It was not immediately clear whether any formal complaints had been filed with authorities regarding the alleged intimidation.

The group did not specify which international bodies it was appealing to or what form of intervention it was seeking. No timeline for when the proposed amendments might be introduced or voted on was immediately available.

As described by the group, the changes would extend how long presidents and lawmakers serve in office. It was not immediately clear whether the revisions would apply to current terms or only to future electoral cycles.

Officials had not publicly responded to the appeal at the time of publication. Details on the official process the amendments would follow were also not provided, including whether the proposals would require parliamentary approval, public consultation or other steps.

The call to international organisations underscores unease among parts of civil society over altering constitutional arrangements. The Defend the Constitution Platform framed its appeal around concerns about pressure on citizens during the ongoing discussion, but it did not release information on the scale or location of the alleged incidents.

There was no immediate indication of any response from external bodies. Such organisations can issue statements, send observation missions or engage diplomatically, but no specific actions had been announced in relation to the group’s request.

Further information about the text of the proposed amendments, their sponsors, and the legislative calendar was not immediately available. It was also unclear what additional safeguards, if any, were being considered to address concerns raised by civil society.

Axadle could not independently verify the reported incidents or the full scope of the proposed changes. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.