By Staff ReporterA legal storm hit Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court on June 1, 2026, as ordinary citizens, most of them losing opposition parliamentary candidates from the 2023 elections, moved to block what they call an attempt by Members of Parliament to extend their own time in office, potentially giving themselves an extra two years in power by suspending elections.At the centre of the dispute is the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, which would stretch Parliament’s term from five years to seven years and scrap direct presidential elections, replacing them with an electoral college made up of MPs who would choose the president. The Bill has already gone through public consultations and is currently awaiting its second reading in Parliament.Sources close to the legal proceedings indicate that about 66 individuals have separately dragged 66 MPs to the Constitutional Court over the proposed amendment. Among them are two MPs from Masvingo province, Davis Marapira of Zaka Central and Clemence Chiduwa of Zaka South.TellZim News has seen several of the applications. Among the applicants and their respondent MPs are Lovemore Kuwakumire, Buto Nkomo, and Micheal Musundire, who have taken on Leslie Mhangwa (Chinhoyi), Dingimuzi Phuti (Bulilima), and Felix Mhona (Chikomba East) respectively. Revai Makaure is challenging Clemence Chiduwa (Zaka South), while Murandu Beauty has sued Meeky Jaravaza (Zvishavane-Ngezi). Peter Imbayarwo has filed against Davis Marapira (Zaka Central), and Kevin Daniel Paradza is up against July Moyo (Redcliff). Other cases include Tambara Casper versus Chido Sanyatwe (Nyanga North), Juliet Nyarai Manyame versus Brown Ndlovu (Vungu), Simon Mugoni versus Edmore Samambwa (Zhombe), Morgan Moyana versus Angelina Gata (Mutema-Musikavanhu), Peter Chauruka versus Shakemore Wellington Timburwa (Chegutu West), and Alluwis Zhou versus Fred Moyo (Zvishavane-Runde).Each application is accompanied by a standard notice that the respondents 10 days to respond failure which the case will proceed as an unopposed application.“Take notice that the Applicant intends to apply to the Constitutional Court at Harare for an order in terms of the Draft Order annexed to this notice and that the accompanying affidavit/s and documents will be used in support of the application. If you intend to oppose this application you will have to file a Notice of Opposition, in Form CCZ 2 together with one or more opposing affidavits, with the Registrar of the Constitutional Court at Harare within 10 (ten) days after the date on which this notice was served upon you. You will also have to serve a copy of the Notice of Opposition and affidavit/s on the Applicant at the address for service specified below. If you do not file an opposing affidavit within the period specified above, this application will be set down for hearing in the Constitutional Court at Harare without further notice to you and will be dealt with as an unopposed application.” Read the applicationsEach application is brought under Section 85 of the Constitution and Rule 26(2) of the Constitutional Court Rules 2025. A legal expert following the cases noted: “Section 85 lets any person approach the court when a right in the Bill of Rights is threatened. These voters are saying the right to vote is under threat.”The core claim is blunt. The applicants argue the amendment would fundamentally change how Zimbabweans choose their president and how long their MPs serve. Recently, Chiredzi Central MP Ropafadzo Makumire said his term will end in 2028. He said if the proposed amendment passes, he will return to his electorate to seek their guidance.“My term ends in 2028. If the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 passes, I will go back to the people who elected me. If they tell me to step down, I will step down. I can only proceed if they ask me to continue,” said Makumire.
