Online Reporter
Fidelis Munyoro
Chief Court Reporter
Prominent lawyer, Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba, has threatened legal action against Lynette Stactia over a social media post accusing him of being a key architect of the proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill of 2026.
The proposed amendment seeks to extend the presidential term to seven years and overhaul several governance structures.
Adv Magwaliba, in a strongly-worded statement, dismissed the allegations as “completely false and unfounded.”
“I noted with concern a statement purporting that I was one of the chief architects and draftsmen of the proposed Amendment No. 3 to the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” Adv Magwaliba said on Sunday.
“The statement purports to have been originated by Lynette Stactia, who has considerable following on X.”
The post, which has circulated widely on social media, claims Adv Magwaliba was both instrumental in drafting the amendment and had not been fully compensated for his work.
The lawyer denied any involvement, asserting that he was neither consulted nor hired.
“I took no part in the drafting of the proposed amendments and I did not charge any fee because I was never briefed or consulted in relation to the document,” Adv Magwaliba said.
“It is therefore a complete fabrication that I have not been paid for fees connected with the drafting of the document.
“I have not demanded any payment from the Government or any other person in connection with the document.”
The Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, gazetted last week, has sparked widespread debate.
It proposes a shift from the current presidential five-year term to a seven-year tenure and includes provisions aimed at restructuring state governance.
The bill, according to Government officials, is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen constitutional governance and promote political stability.
Adv Magwaliba alleged that the post was published without seeking his comment and accused its author of disregarding his right of reply.
He expressed uncertainty about the motives behind the claims but vowed to hold those responsible accountable.
“The author of the article did not ask for my comment before publishing the article,” he said.
“My right of reply was not respected. I am not sure of the motives behind the false publication, and I will take appropriate legal action upon identifying the true identity and other particulars of the author of the offending document.”
The allegations come amid broader conversation surrounding the amendment.
Stactia, whose post tied Adv Magwaliba to these claims, has not publicly responded to the lawyer’s statement or his threat of legal action.
Parliament is expected to deliberate on the bill following a 90-day public consultation period.
