CAB3 Enters Parliament: Zimbabwe’s Constitution Faces Major Test as Lawmakers Return
By Desire Tshuma
Harare – Zimbabwe’s Parliament resumes today, Tuesday 2 June 2026, with the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, or CAB3, set for its First Reading — marking the start of formal debate on one of the country’s most consequential constitutional proposals since 2013.
The Bill arrives after Parliament closed 90 days of public consultations on 17 May. Minister of Justice Ziyambi Ziyambi is expected to introduce CAB3, which proposes extending presidential, parliamentary, and local authority terms from 5 to 7 years, shifting presidential election to a parliamentary vote, and expanding presidential appointments to the Senate.
Government officials have tied the amendments to the ZANU–PF “2030 agenda” for long-term stability and Vision 2030 economic goals. Critics warn the changes could extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term to 2030, beyond the current 2028 limit.
As MPs begin deliberations, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches has called on citizens to “pray for our leaders for wisdom, integrity, and sound judgement,” citing Jeremiah 29:7: “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city… Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
Passage requires a two-thirds majority in both the National Assembly and Senate. Certain provisions may also trigger a referendum under section 328 of the Constitution.
