CAB3 adoption processes enter final lap, says Ziyambi

Parliamentary processes for the adoption of the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 are expected to be completed by the end of June, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has said.

The Bill, which has already triggered widespread public debate, proposes significant changes to Zimbabwe's constitutional framework, including a parliamentary-based process for electing the President and extending the presidential term from five to seven years.

At present, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is consolidating submissions gathered from members of the public through written submissions, emails and nationwide public hearings conducted between March 31 and April 2.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Minister Ziyambi said the committee's report was expected to be finalised over the weekend ahead of Parliament's resumption on June 2.

"So basically the process has been like this, the portfolio committees have been looking at the submissions that were brought to Parliament as well as what they gathered during public hearings, so they have been compiling their report which we hope will be done by this weekend," he said.

"And once it's done, next week when we resume sitting I will then introduce the Bill for the first time."

Parliament had temporarily adjourned sittings to allow the processing and consolidation of public submissions.

Minister Ziyambi explained that once the Bill is formally introduced, it will proceed to the second reading stage, where he will unpack the provisions and rationale behind the proposed amendments before Members of Parliament.

"It being a Constitutional Bill it's not referred to the Parliamentary legal committee which would then allow me if I'm comfortable to proceed to the second reading speech where I will formally now unpack the Bill to Parliamentarians explaining the provisions of the Bill, the rationale and opening up debate," he said.

He added that portfolio committees responsible for conducting public hearings would table reports outlining submissions received from citizens and their own recommendations regarding the proposed constitutional changes.

The debate would then be opened to all MPs, who would be given the opportunity to propose amendments, additions or removal of specific clauses.

"(They will also present) on what they also believe the bill should be and then after that it will be opened to all the members of Parliament to debate, to proffer suggestions on clauses, what they think they should be like and when all that debate is completed I will then be able to respond to all the submissions," said Minister Ziyambi.

He indicated that government remained open to revising certain provisions depending on the nature of parliamentary debate and public feedback.

"If there is need to adjust or to drop some clauses, I will then in my closing speech after the second reading speech indicate if that consideration will be done before we then proceed to the committee stage," he said.

"But it will depend on the debate; how it goes in Parliament and hopefully we should be able to conclude the processes by end of June."

The proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 also seeks to introduce a range of legal and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening governance structures, clarifying constitutional roles, promoting political stability and improving the efficiency of State institutions.

However, some legal experts, civil society groups and opposition figures have already raised concerns over aspects of the Bill, particularly proposals relating to presidential tenure and the method of electing a Head of State, arguing that such changes could fundamentally reshape Zimbabwe's constitutional and democratic framework.