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Zimbabwe’s Cabinet has approved the draft Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, a proposal that would bring sweeping changes to the country’s governance system and electoral framework.
The Bill will be gazetted by the Speaker of Parliament before undergoing 90 days of public debate. It will then be tabled in Parliament for consideration.
Key Provisions in the Draft Bill
- Presidential Elections: The President would no longer be directly elected by citizens. Instead, Parliament would elect the Head of State by majority vote.
- Extended Terms: The tenure of both the President and Members of Parliament would increase from five years to seven years.
- Attorney-General’s Office: Appointees must meet the qualifications required of a Supreme Court judge.
- Expanded Senate: The President would appoint 10 additional senators, raising the total number from 80 to 90.
- Election Oversight: Voter registration and the voters’ roll would move from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Registrar-General. A new Zimbabwe Electoral Delimitation Commission would be established to draw constituency and ward boundaries.
- Judicial Appointments: The public interview process for judges would be abolished.
- Defence Forces Role: The military’s constitutional duty would be redefined from “upholding” the Constitution to acting “in accordance with” it.
- Gender Commission: The Zimbabwe Gender Commission would be abolished, with its functions transferred to the Human Rights Commission.
The draft Bill represents one of the most significant constitutional changes in recent years. It now awaits gazetting and public debate before being brought before Parliament.
