As parliamentary debate on the Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill intensifies, figures emerging from the recently concluded 90-day public consultation process point to one of the largest citizen engagement exercises in Zimbabwe’s constitutional history.
A report presented to Parliament on Wednesday by the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Edison Zvobgo Junior, revealed that Zimbabweans participated extensively in the consultation process through public hearings and written submissions.
According to the report, a total of 540 037 written representations were received from members of the public across the country. Of these, 537 102 submissions supported the proposed constitutional amendments, while 2 935 were against the Bill.
The figures indicate that more than 99 percent of the written submissions endorsed Constitutional Amendment No. 3, highlighting significant public backing among those who took part in the process.
Political analysts have described the consultation exercise as a notable demonstration of citizen participation in governance and constitutional affairs.
Dereck Goto said the volume of submissions reflected an unprecedented level of public interest in the proposed amendments.
“The fact that more than 540 000 submissions were made demonstrates that Zimbabweans actively engaged with the process. Such levels of participation are rarely witnessed in constitutional consultations. The figures show that citizens took the opportunity to make their views known and contribute to the national debate,” he said.
Goto noted that the overwhelming support reflected in the submissions would likely shape public expectations as Parliament continues deliberations on the Bill.
“The submissions indicate a clear trend in public opinion. As lawmakers debate the Bill, many citizens will expect Parliament to take into account the views expressed during the consultation process,” he added.
Political analyst Dr Mathew Mare said the statistics mirrored the strong turnout witnessed during public hearings held around the country.
“The numbers correspond with what was observed during the outreach meetings. Citizens attended in large numbers and participated actively in discussions on Constitutional Amendment No. 3. The figures provide a quantitative reflection of that engagement,” he said.
The submissions were analysed by a Joint Committee comprising the Portfolio Committees on Women Affairs, Community and SMEs Development; Defence, Home Affairs, Security Services and War Veterans Affairs; Local Government, Public Works and National Housing; and Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training.
The exercise also involved the participation of the Thematic Committees on Human Rights, Peace and Security, and Gender and Development.
The report is expected to play a key role in informing parliamentary deliberations as legislators continue considering the Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill.
