Villagers push for 10-year Presidential term at CAB3 hearings

Public consultations on Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) have taken an unexpected turn, with villagers in Kazangarare calling for presidential terms of up to 10 years-beyond the proposed seven-year limit.

At the latest meeting, speakers unanimously supported extending the term to a decade, marking a shift from earlier consultations that had largely backed a seven-year proposal.

Hurungwe villager Joyline Moyo dismissed the proposed term as too short.

"Seven years is too short. I propose 10 years," she said, adding that further extensions could be considered in future.

Another resident, Marvelous Zimbeva, echoed the sentiment, expressing support for Emmerson Mnangagwa.

"Seven years is too short. He should be given 10 more years in power," Zimbeva said.

However, the consultations in Kazangarare and Patchway have drawn scrutiny over how the meetings were conducted. Reports suggest that participation was tightly controlled, with individuals allegedly vetted before being allowed to speak.

In some cases, suspected opponents of the bill were reportedly removed from speaking queues.

There are also claims that financial incentives may have influenced participation. Sources allege that individuals who spoke in support of the bill were promised US$20, while those who attended without speaking received about US$2, along with food and transport.

At Patchway, attendees were reportedly given meals and soft drinks from Chicken Inn at Kwaedza School following the meeting.

The developments have raised questions about the transparency and credibility of the ongoing public consultation process.