By Correspondent
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi presented the First Reading of the controversial CAB3 in Parliament on Tuesday, setting in motion what could be a history-defining move.
“Mr Speaker, I rise to present the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Amendment No. 3, Bill of 2026.
“The Bill, Mr Speaker, 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,” Minister Ziyambi said.
He spoke before the Bill was read for the first time by the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Chokuda.
Among other things, if passed, the Bill will alter the term length for both the President and Parliamentarians.
For the current administration, it will mean they exit power in 2030 instead of 2028.
After Tuesday’s reading, the Bill will proceed to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
A majority of the members of the Parliamentary Legal Committee must be qualified to practise in Zimbabwe as legal practitioners unless there are insufficient such persons eligible to be appointed to the committee.
The Parliamentary Legal Committee (PLC) is established in terms of section 152 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
It may be regarded as the Constitutional watchdog as its main mandate is to scrutinise the constitutionality of any proposed legislation, both primary and subsidiary, presented before Parliament.
The Chairperson is appointed by the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders in terms of Standing Order No. 19.
Currently, the Chairperson for the Committee is ZANU PF’s Eddison Zvobgo (Jr).
Mandate of the Parliamentary Legal Committee
Section 152(3) of the Constitution stipulates the mandate of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, that is to examine –
-Every Bill, other than a Constitutional Bill, before it receives its final vote in the Senate or the National Assembly;
-any Bill which has been amended after being examined by the Committee before the Bill receives its final vote in the Senate or the National Assembly
-every statutory instrument published in the Gazette;
-every draft Bill which has been referred to the Committee by a Vice- President or a Minister; and
-every draft statutory instrument which has been referred to the Committee by the authority empowered to make the instrument.
The Legal Committee shall then render a formal opinion regarding any provisions that may stand in contradiction to other constitutional mandates.
Armed with the opinion of the Legal Committee, changes can then be made where necessary.
The Last Stages
After that stage will be the Second Reading of the Bill.
This is followed by the debate in the National Assembly, where Parliamentarians may advocate for further changes or even disparage the entire Bill.
From the National Assembly, CAB3 will then be sent to the Senate for further scrutiny and debate by the Senators.
After that, it will return to the National Assembly for the Third Reading and finally a vote by the MPs.
Asked about the voting system on Tuesday, Minister Ziyambi was firm about the Constitutional process being followed.
“The Speaker will be guided by the provisions of the Constitution as he steers the Bill through Parliament.
“So don’t worry, the Speaker will abide by each and every provision in the Constitution as we deliberate on it,” he said.
Many critics of the Bill have been agitating for a secret ballot for the MPs.
This, they hope, will allow MPs to vote without fear of victimisation by their parties.
However, the government has been adamant that the normal process, which involves a public vote, will be followed.
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