CZR endorses Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has thrown its weight behind the proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, describing it as a necessary step to strengthen governance, enhance State efficiency and safeguard national stability.

In a statement issued by its president, Denford Mutashu, the retail body said peace, security and stability remain the foundation of sustainable economic development and investor confidence.

The CZR argued that these pillars are critical for protecting productive assets and ensuring policy continuity, which it said are essential for achieving targets set under the National Development Strategy 1 and 2 frameworks as Zimbabwe advances toward Vision 2030.

Citing economic indicators, the organisation said the country has recorded notable progress under the Second Republic, including growth in gross domestic product from US$20 billion in 2017 to US$52 billion in 2025, stabilised inflation at 4.1 percent, improved fuel and energy availability, and record output in gold, tobacco and wheat production.

It also pointed to infrastructure development, rural industrialisation initiatives and what it described as renewed investor confidence as evidence of positive transformation across sectors.

The CZR maintained that a stable political environment is central to economic expansion, warning that frequent election cycles could disrupt momentum.

"Commerce flourishes where peace prevails. The stability we enjoy today must not be disrupted by perpetual election cycles," the statement read.

The retailers' body said it supports extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term to 2030, arguing that continuity in leadership is necessary to complete ongoing projects and consolidate development gains.

"As retailers operating in every community, we witness daily the benefits of a stable environment. We stand firmly behind this constitutional reform process that safeguards stability and accelerates our journey toward an upper-middle-income economy by 2030," Mutashu said.

The proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill has sparked debate in political and civic circles, with supporters citing stability and continuity, while critics have raised concerns about governance and democratic principles.