AG clarifies purpose of Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3

The Attorney-General Virginia Mabiza has sought to clarify public confusion surrounding the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 3) Bill, emphasizing that the proposed changes are aimed at strengthening electoral institutions rather than benefiting individual office holders.

Speaking amid heightened public debate, Mabiza urged citizens to rely on the officially gazetted text of the Bill, rather than speculation or media commentary.

"The Bill proposes amendments to certain provisions of the Constitution, including sections 92, 95, 143 and 158," she said, noting that these sections primarily govern the timing and conduct of national elections.

Central to the amendments is a proposed shift in the electoral cycle from five years to seven years for harmonised elections covering the Presidency, Parliament, and local authorities. Sections 95(2)(b) and 143(1) currently regulate the presidential term and the duration of Parliament, while section 158 ensures harmonised general elections. The Bill seeks to extend the electoral cycle while maintaining the synchronisation of elections.

Mabiza stressed that the amendments do not change presidential term limits. "Section 95(2)(b) does not deal with or alter the constitutional provisions relating to presidential term limits, which remain governed by other provisions of the Constitution," she said.

She further explained that the Bill is institution-focused, designed to ensure continuity and efficiency in national governance rather than to serve individual office bearers.

"These amendments are not designed to benefit office bearers, but rather they reform institutions that automatically fall under the electoral cycle," Mabiza said.

The Bill also contains transitional provisions to clarify how the seven-year cycle would apply to the current electoral period, providing a clear legal framework for implementation.

Mabiza urged the public to refer to the Bill as officially gazetted on February 16, 2026, by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda.

"The Bill and the Memorandum constitute the authoritative legal text outlining the proposed amendments and the rationale for those amendments, following Cabinet approval on February 10, 2026," she said, urging debate to be anchored on the actual text rather than political speculation.

"Members of the public are therefore encouraged to refer directly to the gazetted Bill when considering the content and effect of the proposed amendments," Mabiza concluded.