Source: Public hearings on Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill set to begin – herald
Debra Matabvu
DATES for public hearings and consultations on the Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill are expected to be announced this week, marking the next stage in the legislative process of the proposed law which, among other provisions, seeks to align election cycles to the country’s developmental aspirations and trajectory, it has been learnt.
The 90-day period for public hearings and consultations commenced on February 17 after the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 3) Bill, 2026 was gazetted.
Once the consultations are completed, the relevant Parliamentary committees will compile reports before the Bill is formally introduced in the National Assembly for debate and consideration.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda said the dates for public hearings will be announced this week.
“At the moment, we do not have the dates yet; we are still finalising. However, next week (this week) we will be able to give you the dates of when the public hearings will begin,” he said.
“We have also started receiving submissions through the official Parliament email, although I cannot say off-hand how many they are.”
Political analyst and media studies expert Mr Methuseli Moyo said the process was critical as it gives citizens an opportunity to directly participate in shaping the country’s legislative agenda.
“The public hearings are very important as they afford citizens the chance to input on the legislative agenda. In this instance, citizens have been given the opportunity to express their views about the much-talked-about Constitutional Amendments No. 3 Bill,” he said.
“The parliamentary process is a legitimate platform where views will matter. The people must, therefore, go in their numbers and give their views.”
The Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill proposes a parliamentary process for the election of the President and seeks to replace the current five-year Presidential term with a seven-year tenure.
Currently, the President is elected through a direct vote under the first-past-the-post electoral system.
The Bill also transfers responsibility for registering voters, compiling and maintaining the voters’ roll and registers from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Registrar-General.
This is meant to ensure efficiency, since the Registrar-General is the custodian of these records.
The Bill further establishes a parliamentary method for selecting the President.
Clause 3 specifies that a candidate must secure a majority of votes, and if no candidate achieves an absolute majority, a run-off election will be held.
The process will be overseen by ZEC to ensure it is conducted properly.
It also introduces a raft of legal reforms aimed at strengthening constitutional governance, clarifying institutional roles, promoting political stability and enhancing the efficiency of the State architecture.
Additionally, the Bill proposes an amendment to Section 114(3) of the Constitution to require that the Attorney-General be qualified to serve as a Supreme Court judge.
Clause 15 seeks to amend Section 212 (Functions of Defence Forces) of the Constitution by deleting the words “to uphold the Constitution” and substituting them with “in accordance with the Constitution”.
The Bill also proposes the abolition of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, with its functions and responsibilities transferred to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.
It further seeks to amend Section 120 of the Constitution to allow the President to appoint 10 additional Senators, increasing the total number from 80 to 90.
According to the Government Gazette published recently, the Bill forms part of Zimbabwe’s continuing legal evolution.
The gazette indicates that the proposed amendments aim to align with the spirit of the Constitution by refining and modernising selected provisions in response to governance experience, developmental needs and evolving constitutional practices.
“This Bill introduces a set of constructive reforms that, taken together, reinforce constitutional governance, strengthen democratic structures, clarify institutional mandates and harmonise Zimbabwe’s constitutional order with tested and successful practices in other progressive jurisdictions,” the Government Gazette says in part.
“The Bill modernises and streamlines various aspects of the constitutional architecture, while upholding the values of the 2013 Constitution.
“The amendments form part of a broader constitutional evolution, one that is grounded in the deliberate refinement of governance frameworks and an increased focus on institutional efficiency, political inclusivity and long-term national stability.”
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