War veteran files urgent High Court bid to halt Zimbabwe Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3 over alleged MP inducements

War veteran Reuben Zulu has approached the High Court seeking to halt the processing of Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3 over allegations of unlawful inducements involving Members of Parliament.

HARARE – Zimbabwe's Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) has encountered another legal obstacle after liberation war veteran Reuben Zulu filed an urgent High Court application seeking to stop the Bill from reaching President Emmerson Mnangagwa for assent.

The application, filed on Tuesday and prepared by constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhuku, asks the High Court to suspend the certification and transmission of CAB3 until allegations that Members of Parliament were unlawfully induced during the legislative process have been fully investigated. The latest case follows the dismissal of an earlier Constitutional Court challenge in June, when Justice Bharat Patel ruled that the applicants had failed to establish a constitutional basis for the apex court to intervene.

Zulu argues that Parliament's approval of the Bill was "contaminated" by allegations that legislators accepted luxury vehicles and cash while debating constitutional amendments that could significantly reshape Zimbabwe's governance system.

Court papers allege that CCC proportional representation MP Samantha Mureyani and ZANU PF MP Remigious Matangira each received 2026 Toyota Fortuner vehicles from businessman Wicknell Chivayo while the Bill was before Parliament. The application further claims Mureyani received an additional US$50,000, allegedly described as constituency development funding despite serving as a proportional representation legislator.

"It is not about whether the reward was paid before or after a speech. The question is whether a member accepted a reward for or in respect of the promotion of, support for, or conduct relating to a Bill," the founding affidavit states.

The application also alleges that cash payments of US$10,000 were distributed to legislators through parliamentary chief whips under the guise of constituency development funds.

Zulu argues the alleged conduct breaches Section 18 of the Privileges, Immunities and Powers of Parliament Act, which prohibits MPs from accepting rewards connected to parliamentary business, and Section 170 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which criminalises inducements intended to influence public officials.

In a certificate of urgency, lawyer Kudzanai Brian Munakamwe warned that allowing the Bill to proceed before the allegations are tested would cause irreversible constitutional prejudice.

"The constitutional process is continuing now. The risk is not remote. It is imminent," Munakamwe states in the application.

Constitutional law experts say the case shifts attention from the substance of CAB3 to the integrity of Parliament's legislative process. The Law Society of Zimbabwe, in its submissions to Parliament, has already raised concerns over several provisions of the Bill, arguing that some proposed constitutional changes may require a referendum under Section 328 of the Constitution.

The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference has also expressed concern over the proposed constitutional reforms, urging national dialogue and respect for constitutionalism before far-reaching amendments are enacted. CAB3 proposes sweeping changes to Zimbabwe's constitutional framework, including extending presidential, parliamentary and local authority terms from five to seven years, restructuring the election of the President and altering several constitutional institutions. The Bill has sharply divided legal experts, political parties and civil society organisations.

The High Court has directed the respondents to file opposing papers within three days. Should the court grant interim relief, the certification and presentation of the Bill to President Mnangagwa could be temporarily suspended pending a full hearing.

Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3