Zanu PF rush to force a Mnangagwa 'third term’

The Senate on Tuesday held a lengthy and often heated debate on the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), with ruling party senators and traditional leaders strongly backing the proposed constitutional changes while opposition legislators warned the Bill could weaken democratic accountability and concentrate power.

The sitting, which stretched into the evening after Parliament suspended its normal procedures, centred on legislation that seeks to extend the terms of the President, Parliament and local authorities from five to seven years.

Supporters of the Bill argued that longer terms would provide government with sufficient time to complete major infrastructure projects and implement national development programmes without the disruption of frequent election cycles.

Traditional leaders emerged among the Bill's strongest supporters during the debate.

Chief Matsiwo described Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi as an "angel" for introducing the legislation, arguing that repeated elections hinder development and contribute to poverty.

Chief Chinyanga echoed similar sentiments, saying President Emmerson Mnangagwa's Vision 2030 agenda required continuity to achieve its objectives, while Chief Chitanga declared that traditional leaders were united in supporting the Bill.

Ruling party senators also defended the proposed amendments.

Former Industry and Commerce minister Mike Bimha argued that Zimbabwe should pursue a governance model suited to its own circumstances rather than emulate Western democracies, pointing to countries such as China and Russia as development examples.

Women's Affairs Minister Monica Mutsvangwa also supported the proposal, saying there was no reason to alter a leadership arrangement that she believed was delivering results.

In defending the Bill, Ziyambi used a farming analogy to explain the proposed extension of presidential tenure.

He likened the Presidency to a field and the term of office to a growing season, arguing that extending the duration of a term would simply allow a "crop" more time to mature rather than amount to granting the office-holder an additional constitutional term.

However, opposition senators rejected the government's arguments, describing the proposed amendments as a threat to constitutional governance.

CCC senator Sithabisiwe Moyo warned that the Bill represented what she described as a coordinated effort to weaken accountability and consolidate executive authority.

She argued that democracies are often eroded gradually through incremental extensions of power rather than through dramatic constitutional changes.

Fellow CCC senator Sessel Zvidzai said the Constitution belongs to Zimbabwean citizens rather than politicians, insisting that such significant constitutional amendments should first be subjected to a national referendum.

He argued that Parliament had a democratic obligation to allow citizens to determine whether they supported the proposed changes.

The Senate is expected to vote on CAB3 before the Bill is transmitted to President Mnangagwa for assent if approved.

The legislation cleared the National Assembly last week after ZANU PF secured the required two-thirds majority with support from CCC legislators aligned to self-imposed interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu.

The Bill has generated significant political debate, with supporters maintaining that it is necessary to ensure policy continuity and accelerate development, while critics argue it could undermine constitutional safeguards and weaken democratic accountability.

The proposed amendments come despite Mnangagwa's previous public statements that he would not seek to remain in office beyond the constitutionally prescribed two terms. His allies have, however, increasingly advocated for extending his tenure to 2030, a move critics say could alter Zimbabwe's political succession landscape.