Sithembinkosi L Jiyane
Political Reporter
www.zimgbcnews.co.zw
Zimbabwe’s Cabinet has approved the draft Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill of 2026, sending shockwaves across the country. Government officials say the reforms are designed to strengthen stability and ensure continuity in national programmes, but critics warn they could drastically reshape the nation’s democracy.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi defended the Bill, arguing that longer presidential and parliamentary terms would allow authorities to complete development projects without disruption from constant elections.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana added that frequent electoral cycles place strain on national planning and resources, making the proposed reforms necessary for progress.
Yet opposition groups and civil society organisations have sounded the alarm. The Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) described the Bill as a direct threat to Zimbabwe’s constitutional order. They warned that shifting power from citizens to political elites could centralise authority, weaken accountability, and undermine electoral integrity.
The CDF also raised concerns over transferring voter registration back to the Registrar-General, scrapping public judicial interviews, and expanding the President’s influence in Parliament through ten additional senatorial appointments.
“This proposal amounts to a constitutional coup against the people and risks undoing the democratic gains secured under the 2013 Constitution,” said the CDF in a statement.
Among the most controversial measures is the proposed method of electing the President. Instead of being directly chosen by citizens, the President would be selected by Parliament at a joint sitting overseen by the Chief Justice or a designated judge.
The Bill also seeks to extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years, effectively postponing the next elections to 2030.
Other sweeping reforms would alter the constitutional role of the Defence Forces, replacing their duty to “uphold” the Constitution with a mandate to act merely “in accordance with” it.
The Bill also proposes abolishing the Zimbabwe Gender Commission and merging its functions into the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, raising fears that gender equality issues could be sidelined.
Opposition figures and legal experts have vowed to fight the Bill through courts, Parliament, and public demonstrations.
Political activist Jacob Ngarivhume said citizens would be mobilised to exercise their constitutional right to protest.
He added:
“The street theatre will ensure that the other two, courts and parliament, listen,” hinting that a people’s referendum could soon be called.
Constitutional lawyer Advocate Fadzayi Mahere questioned why a president with sweeping powers should avoid direct election by the people. She warned that extending terms without voter approval risks weakening democratic accountability. She also highlighted concerns about moving control of the voters’ roll back to the Registrar-General, citing past credibility issues.
“Why should an executive president with sweeping powers be afraid of seeking a proper mandate from the people?” asked Advocate Mahere.
Political analyst Dr Phillan Zamchiya described the reforms as “political reengineering,” arguing that extending terms and moving presidential selection to Parliament reduces electoral pressure on incumbents while consolidating power in the hands of political elites.
Meanwhile, women’s rights advocates cautioned that abolishing the Zimbabwe Gender Commission could weaken attention to issues such as gender-based violence, education, and economic opportunities for women and girls.
Civil society groups are calling for broad public consultation, insisting that reforms of this magnitude require direct citizen consent. Observers warn that the outcome could determine not only who leads Zimbabwe, but also how power is distributed and checked within the state for years to come.
Stay Connected with Zim GBC News:
· X (Twitter): @ZimGbc
· Instagram: @ZimGBCNews
· TikTok: @ZimGBCNews_01
· Facebook: Zim GBC News
· YouTube: Zim GBC News
Get real-time alerts on WhatsApp:
+263 773 820 323
Zim GBC News | Global News From An African Perspective©️2026