CAB3 heads to Mnangagwa for signature

Zimbabwe's controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 has cleared its final parliamentary hurdle after the National Assembly on Tuesday approved amendments made by the Senate during an extraordinary sitting convened by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The lower House adopted the Senate amendments by 226 votes to 41, with opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators voting against the measure. The Bill will now be transmitted to President Mnangagwa for assent before becoming law.

The legislation has sparked intense political and legal debate over its proposed changes to Zimbabwe's constitutional framework.

Among its most significant provisions, the Bill extends the life of the current Parliament and local authorities by two years, moving the end of their terms from 2028 to 2030. It also increases the term of office for future presidents, Members of Parliament and local authorities from five years to seven years.

Another key amendment changes the process of filling a vacancy in the Office of the President. Instead of Zimbabweans electing a new president in the event of a vacancy, the successor would be chosen by a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate.

The Bill was initially passed by the National Assembly on June 18 after securing 216 votes, aided by support from legislators aligned to self-styled CCC secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu. It was subsequently approved by the Senate by 75 votes to four before being returned to the National Assembly for consideration of procedural amendments.

Tuesday's sitting was attended by Chikomba West MP and Information Communication Technology Minister Tatenda Mavetera, as well as Makoni West MP and Skills Audit Minister Jenfan Muswere, who were among 14 Zanu PF legislators absent during the Bill's initial passage through the National Assembly.

Their attendance followed a directive from Zanu PF instructing all its legislators to be present for the decisive sitting.

Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda presided over the proceedings.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told the House that the Senate's amendments were largely procedural.

Among the changes adopted is a provision requiring the first sitting of a newly elected Parliament to be convened within 14 days of the declaration of election results on a date determined by the Clerk of Parliament through a Government Gazette. The amendments also provide that the Clerk of Parliament will preside over proceedings in both Houses until the Speaker of the National Assembly has been elected.

Despite Parliament's approval, the legislation is widely expected to face renewed legal challenges once it is assented to by the President.

Some constitutional lawyers argue that amendments affecting Section 328(7) of the Constitution cannot lawfully take effect through presidential assent alone. They contend that such changes require approval by Zimbabwean voters in a national referendum conducted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission before they can become part of the Constitution.

The Government disputes that interpretation, maintaining that Parliament has acted within its constitutional mandate.

Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 has become one of the most contentious legislative proposals since the adoption of Zimbabwe's 2013 Constitution. Critics argue that it seeks to extend political terms without a fresh electoral mandate, while supporters say the amendments are intended to improve governance, enhance continuity and align electoral processes.