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The Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) party has launched a forceful condemnation of proposed constitutional amendments in Zimbabwe, particularly those seeking to extend the terms of office for the President, Parliament, and Councils by three years.
By Vongai Masuka
LEAD President Linda Tsungirirai Masarira, asserted that such changes, if implemented without a national referendum, constitute a grave threat to the nation’s democratic foundations.
The proposed amendments, reportedly outlined in a Cabinet Memorandum, cite reasons of governance stability, alignment of electoral cycles, and continuity of development policies.
However, Masarira argues that the plan to postpone elections and disrupt the established five-year electoral cycle is a direct assault on the constitutional right of Zimbabweans to regular, free, and fair elections.
“The right to vote in regular, free, and fair elections is a sovereign right of all Zimbabweans, as enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe, and cannot be overridden by a two-thirds majority in Parliament alone,” Masarira stated.
She warned that such a move would disenfranchise citizens and political parties without parliamentary representation, effectively silencing diverse voices and undermining inclusive governance.
LEAD specifically rejected the notion that a two-thirds parliamentary vote is sufficient to alter the democratic contract of a five-year electoral mandate, labeling it flawed and dangerous.
The party insists that these far-reaching changes must be subjected to the explicit consent of the people through a national referendum, not decided in the corridors of power by a select few.
Beyond term limits, LEAD has also voiced strong opposition to the proposed transfer of voter registration functions from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Registrar of Births and Deaths.
Masarira contended that this shift creates a dangerous conflict of interest by linking a critical electoral function directly to the executive branch through the Ministry of Home Affairs.
This, she argued, introduces a risk of political interference and manipulation of voter rolls, particularly given Zimbabwe’s history of disputed elections.
Instead, LEAD has proposed a collaborative framework where ZEC retains sole custodianship of voter registration, while coordinating with the Registrar of Births and Deaths and the Registrar General’s Office for data verification.
Masarira also highlighted the inconsistencies, irregularities, and failure to uphold the principles of fairness and transparency that marred ZEC’s 2022 delimitation exercise.
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