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Tshabangu bloc holds CAB 3 vote as Zanu-PF talks stall
2 hrs ago |
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Negotiations between a parliamentary caucus led by self-styled Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu and Zanu-PF over the contentious Constitution Amendment No. 3 Bill (CAB 3) have reached a stalemate, with the opposition-aligned bloc issuing an ultimatum ahead of a critical Senate vote.
Tshabangu has reportedly given the ruling party until midnight tomorrow to secure a political agreement, warning that failure to reach consensus could derail the passage of the constitutional amendments.
The development highlights the growing influence of Tshabangu's parliamentary grouping, which now holds a pivotal position in determining whether the Bill secures the required two-thirds majority in the Senate.
Although Zanu-PF commands a comfortable majority in the National Assembly, it requires additional support in the Senate to pass the constitutional changes, making Tshabangu-aligned legislators strategically significant.
In a statement released through spokesperson Nqobizitha Mlilo, Tshabangu confirmed that discussions with government officials had so far been cordial but remained inconclusive.
"So far, both the minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Ziyambi Ziyambi and the Zanu-PF chief whip, Hon Togarepi, have conducted themselves in the most exemplary way," Mlilo said, describing the engagements as professional and respectful.
However, he stressed that no final agreement had been reached and that the caucus would not automatically endorse the proposed constitutional changes without what he described as meaningful political concessions.
"We are not simply going to be an implementation arm of a Zanu-PF conference resolution. We are not voting cows," Mlilo said.
He added that the group was demanding a "sincere, broad-based political settlement" that reflects national interests rather than partisan priorities.
According to Mlilo, the deadline for negotiations expires at midnight on Tuesday, ahead of a decisive caucus meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, 2026, where Tshabangu's legislators will determine their final position on the Bill.
He warned that failure to reach an agreement would force changes to the parliamentary timetable for the constitutional amendment process.
The standoff comes as a surprise to some observers, given that Tshabangu-aligned legislators had previously been among the more vocal supporters of the Bill during earlier National Assembly debates.
Tshabangu's emergence as a key power broker has placed him at the centre of one of the most consequential legislative processes in recent years, with the fate of CAB 3 now hinging on negotiations taking place outside the formal parliamentary chamber.
While details of the caucus's demands have not been publicly disclosed, Tshabangu has in the past advocated for a Government of National Unity, arguing that Zimbabwe's political and economic challenges require structured cooperation between rival political forces.
Tshabangu has reportedly given the ruling party until midnight tomorrow to secure a political agreement, warning that failure to reach consensus could derail the passage of the constitutional amendments.
The development highlights the growing influence of Tshabangu's parliamentary grouping, which now holds a pivotal position in determining whether the Bill secures the required two-thirds majority in the Senate.
Although Zanu-PF commands a comfortable majority in the National Assembly, it requires additional support in the Senate to pass the constitutional changes, making Tshabangu-aligned legislators strategically significant.
In a statement released through spokesperson Nqobizitha Mlilo, Tshabangu confirmed that discussions with government officials had so far been cordial but remained inconclusive.
"So far, both the minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Ziyambi Ziyambi and the Zanu-PF chief whip, Hon Togarepi, have conducted themselves in the most exemplary way," Mlilo said, describing the engagements as professional and respectful.
However, he stressed that no final agreement had been reached and that the caucus would not automatically endorse the proposed constitutional changes without what he described as meaningful political concessions.
He added that the group was demanding a "sincere, broad-based political settlement" that reflects national interests rather than partisan priorities.
According to Mlilo, the deadline for negotiations expires at midnight on Tuesday, ahead of a decisive caucus meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, 2026, where Tshabangu's legislators will determine their final position on the Bill.
He warned that failure to reach an agreement would force changes to the parliamentary timetable for the constitutional amendment process.
The standoff comes as a surprise to some observers, given that Tshabangu-aligned legislators had previously been among the more vocal supporters of the Bill during earlier National Assembly debates.
Tshabangu's emergence as a key power broker has placed him at the centre of one of the most consequential legislative processes in recent years, with the fate of CAB 3 now hinging on negotiations taking place outside the formal parliamentary chamber.
While details of the caucus's demands have not been publicly disclosed, Tshabangu has in the past advocated for a Government of National Unity, arguing that Zimbabwe's political and economic challenges require structured cooperation between rival political forces.
Source - newsday
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