Parliament rolls out nationwide Constitutional Amendment Bill hearings

Zimbabwe's Parliament of Zimbabwe is deploying 11 teams across the country to conduct public hearings on the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 3) Bill, 2026, beginning Monday.

The four-day exercise, running from March 30 to April 2, will cover all 64 districts, giving citizens an opportunity to directly contribute to proposed constitutional changes that could reshape the country's governance and electoral systems.

Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda confirmed that preparations for the hearings had been completed.

"Everything is now in place for the hearings," Chokuda said, adding that submissions are already being received both electronically and in hard copy at Parliament offices in Harare.

He said special desks would also be set up at hearing venues to allow citizens to submit written contributions during the consultations.

The hearings form part of a broader 90-day consultation process that began on February 17 following the gazetting of the Bill. Public hearings are a critical component of Zimbabwe's legislative process, allowing citizens and organisations to present their views, which are then compiled and submitted to lawmakers for consideration.

Political parties have begun mobilising participation ahead of the consultations. ZANU PF Chief Whip Pupurai Togarepi said ruling party legislators would actively encourage citizens to attend.

Meanwhile, Citizens Coalition for Change chief whip Charles Moyo urged party supporters to engage in the process, describing participation as a constitutional right.

"This is a constitutional process  -  citizens must go and air their views," Moyo said.

The proposed amendment contains sweeping changes, including restructuring the country's electoral framework. Among the key proposals are extending the presidential term from five to seven years and shifting the election of the President from a direct public vote to a parliamentary process.

The Bill also proposes transferring responsibility for voter registration and maintenance of the voters' roll from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to the Registrar-General's office, a move authorities say could improve administrative efficiency.

Once the hearings conclude, Parliament will compile a report based on public submissions before the Bill is formally tabled in the National Assembly for debate and possible adoption.

The consultation process is expected to draw significant public interest, given the far-reaching implications of the proposed constitutional changes on Zimbabwe's political and governance landscape.