ZANU PF has indicated that it would not oppose a referendum on the proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 3 Bill (CAB3), although it maintains that the Constitution does not require the proposed amendments to be subjected to a public vote.
The party’s director for information and publicity, Cde Farai Marapira, said the consultation process undertaken to date was sufficient and met all constitutional requirements.
According to Cde Marapira, the ruling party’s position is guided by the law, which it believes does not compel a referendum for the amendments contained in the Bill.
He said ZANU PF has never objected to the idea of a referendum but emphasised that the party operates within the framework of the Constitution and cannot support processes that are not legally required. He added that the consultations already conducted were adequate and consistent with constitutional provisions.
Cde Marapira further argued that the proposed amendments seek to improve the functioning of key institutions and strengthen governance structures. He said the changes are intended to enhance accountability, address constitutional gaps and support the country’s broader development agenda under Vision 2030.
He also noted that public consultations were carried out extensively, saying the Bill reflects contributions gathered from citizens during the engagement process.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Cde Eddison Zvobgo Jr, also defended some of the proposals contained in the Bill. He argued that different countries employ different democratic systems and that there is no single model of democracy.
Using examples from other nations, Cde Zvobgo said leadership transitions through parliamentary processes are common in some jurisdictions and should not automatically be viewed as undemocratic.
He also highlighted potential financial benefits of allowing Parliament to elect a President under certain circumstances, saying such a mechanism could significantly reduce the costs associated with conducting national elections.
Cde Zvobgo maintained that Parliament had followed established constitutional procedures in processing the amendments, noting that similar legislative changes had been made in the past without attracting significant objections.
On demands for a referendum, he said the matter is currently before the courts and therefore cannot be discussed in detail. However, he reiterated Parliament’s position that the proposed amendments do not require a referendum because they relate to extending the electoral cycle rather than altering provisions that constitutionally trigger a public vote.
Meanwhile, Dzivaresekwa legislator Mr Edwin Mushoriwa raised concerns about several aspects of the Bill, arguing that some clauses require closer examination.
Among his objections were proposals to move voter registration responsibilities from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Registrar General’s Office and the suggestion of creating a separate body to handle constituency delimitation outside the electoral management authority.
Discussion around CAB3 continues to attract widespread attention from political parties, civil society groups and the public. Supporters argue that the amendments will improve administrative efficiency and strengthen governance systems, while critics contend that some provisions require broader consultation and further review before being adopted.
