Charamba questions BBC framing of Zimbabwe CAB3 debate

Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications), George Charamba has criticised a recent BBC report on Zimbabwe's Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, disputing its characterisation of the reforms as a "power grab."

The BBC story reportedly suggested that the ruling party, ZANU-PF, was seeking to consolidate power through constitutional changes that would transfer the election of the President from a direct public vote to Parliament, while also extending the presidential term from five to seven years.

The report prominently featured opposition voices including Advocate Fadzayi Mahere, Tendai Biti, and Professor Lovemore Madhuku, while also quoting ZANU-PF Treasurer Patrick Chinamasa.

Writing on his X account, Charamba questioned the framing of the story, drawing comparisons with the United Kingdom's political system and arguing that the process of selecting a head of government through parliament is not unusual in other democratic systems.

He cited the British system, where voters elect Members of Parliament, and the leader of the majority party is appointed Prime Minister by the monarch, as an example of indirect executive selection.

The proposed constitutional reforms under discussion in Zimbabwe would mark a shift from direct presidential elections to an indirect system in which Parliament elects the Head of State and Government, a model that exists in several countries with parliamentary systems.

The debate continues to generate strong political reactions domestically and internationally, with supporters arguing it aligns Zimbabwe with parliamentary democracies, while critics describe it as a reduction in direct electoral accountability.