Zimbabwe Diaspora Group accuses Legal and Parliamentary Committee of excluding important facts in CAB3 consultations

The Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative (ZDVI) has accused Parliament's Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of excluding important facts from its report on the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number Three (CAB3), saying the omissions undermined objective decision‑making.

In a letter dated 8 June 2026 addressed to the committee chairperson, Honourable Edison Zvobgo, the Australia‑based organisation said its submissions on the proposed constitutional changes were ignored despite being formally submitted to Parliament.

The letter, signed by ZDVI chair Rosewiter Mangiroza, stated that the organisation had emailed its submission on 24 March 2026 before sending a hard copy that was officially received and stamped by Parliament on 13 May 2026.

"It has come to our attention that your report on the submissions to the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number Three (CAB3) was not exhaustive, and excluded some vital points raised which could have influenced objective decision making," Mangiroza wrote.

ZDVI specifically challenged the committee's handling of Clause 8, which proposes increasing Senate membership from 80 to 90 through the appointment of 10 additional senators by the President. The organisation said the committee report highlighted arguments supporting the amendment while overlooking key objections raised in its submission.

ZDVI argued that the Constitution already allows the President to appoint ministers and deputy ministers from outside Parliament based on professional expertise, making the additional Senate appointments unnecessary.

"There is, therefore, no justification in allowing the President to appoint an additional 10 Senators for the same reasons," the group said.

The organisation added that permanent secretaries and ministers of state already provide opportunities for government to appoint individuals with technical expertise.

"Zimbabwe cannot afford an additional 10 Senators for the purpose of appointing them to be ministers when the Constitution already allows the President to appoint up to seven people to lead ministries," the letter stated.

ZDVI urged the committee to reconsider its recommendation supporting the clause.

The organisation also reiterated its opposition to proposals extending presidential, parliamentary and council terms from five years to seven years, arguing that such changes would be unconstitutional without a referendum. Citing Section 328 of the Constitution, ZDVI said amendments extending the length of time public office holders remain in office cannot apply to individuals already occupying those offices.

"Increasing the length of time the President, Parliamentarians and Councillors stay in office when they were elected under a Constitution that gave them a five‑year stay in office is unconstitutional unless a referendum is held," the group said.

ZDVI also criticised Parliament for excluding diaspora citizens from the public consultation process on CAB3, saying virtual participation mechanisms such as Zoom could have been used, as was done during the Ninth Parliament.

"The Diaspora Citizens contribute enormously to national development, and this is captured in the Government of Zimbabwe's National Budget," the letter read.

The organisation said it was awaiting a response from the committee regarding the concerns raised.

ZDVI's detailed submission, dated 24 March 2026, rejected key clauses seeking to alter electoral processes, extend presidential and parliamentary terms, and restructure constitutional institutions. It argued that constitutional amendments must strengthen democracy rather than weaken it.

"At the core of our submission is the principle that constitutional amendments must uphold democratic accountability, transparency and the supremacy of the Constitution," the group said.

ZDVI objected to proposals transferring voter registration responsibilities from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to the Registrar‑General's Office, arguing that electoral processes should remain under independent institutions.

"The Registrar‑General in Zimbabwe is an arm of Government and is not an Independent Institution," the organisation said.

The group noted that most SADC countries place electoral processes under independent commissions and said Zimbabwe should follow the same model.

ZDVI also rejected proposals to have the President elected by Parliament instead of through direct voting by citizens.

"The war of liberation was fought largely to achieve one man one vote," the submission read.

"Zimbabweans benefit from the credibility of the President of the country. They must therefore be allowed to vote for a candidate of their choice for the position of President."

The organisation further criticised proposals to extend the presidential term from five years to seven years, saying longer terms reduce accountability and make it harder for citizens to remove underperforming leaders. It noted that all SADC countries currently hold elections every five years.

ZDVI also rejected proposals to increase parliamentary terms from five years to seven years and said any such changes must be subjected to constitutional referendums as required under Section 328.

The organisation opposed amendments allowing the President to appoint an additional 10 senators based on "professional skills and competence", arguing that the Constitution already provides enough avenues for appointing experts into government.

On the judiciary, ZDVI rejected proposals to alter procedures for appointing judges and the Prosecutor‑General, warning that removing public interview processes would weaken transparency and accountability.

The organisation also rejected proposed amendments allowing traditional leaders to participate in active partisan politics.

"How will partisan traditional leaders preside over cases that involve their political opponents?" the group asked.

ZDVI defended the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, saying Zimbabwe still has unresolved historical grievances requiring attention, including Gukurahundi, alleged brutality by state agents against the opposition and post‑election violence.

The organisation called on Parliament to create mechanisms allowing Zimbabweans living abroad to participate in public hearings, referendums and national elections through online platforms.

"Diaspora citizens must be afforded meaningful participation in public consultations," the group said.

ZDVI added that Zimbabweans in the diaspora contribute significantly to the country's economy through remittances, investment and skills transfer, and should not be excluded from constitutional processes.

The organisation urged Parliament to make reports of public consultations publicly available in the interest of transparency and public confidence.

"The Constitution is the foundation of Zimbabwe's democracy. Any amendments must strengthen — not weaken — its core principles," the group said.