By Staff Reporter
THE Cabinet has given the green light for Parly to amend the Constitution to pave the way for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s third term extension bid.
The latest developments were confirmed by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Jenfan Muswere shortly after Cabinet’s meeting Tuesday.
“Today, the 10th of February 2026, His Excellency the President Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa chaired the First Cabinet Meeting and the following issues, among others, were considered and approved Constitutional Amendment No.3 Bill of 2026,” he said in a statement.
The Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, 2026 proposes a series of legal reforms which Cabinet described as imperative to strengthen constitutional governance, clarify institutional roles, promote political stability, and enhance the efficiency of the State architecture.
“Clause 2 repeals section 92 of the Constitution and substitutes it with a parliamentary process for electing the President. It specifies that a candidate must secure a majority of votes, and if no one achieves an absolute majority, a run-off election will be held.
“The process is overseen by the chief Justice or a designated judge to ensure it is conducted properly. These measures strengthen constitutional accountability by promoting fairness, openness, and judicial oversight in the election. The procedure for the election shall be in accordance with Standing Rules and Orders of Parliament,” said Muswere.
Clause 3.7. and 8 amend sections 95, 143 and 158 of the Constitution to substitute the current five-year term of office for the President and Parliament with seven-year term. The objective of this reform is to reduce election-related disruptions, enhance policy continuity, allow sufficient time for the implementation of long-term national projects, and promote political and economic stability.
Clause 5 amends section 114(3) of the Constitution by substituting “High Court” with “Supreme Court”, thereby requiring that a person appointed as Attorney-General possess the qualifications necessary for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court.
The justification for this amendment is that, in accordance with the Attorney-General’s Office Act [Chapter 7:19], Deputy Attorney’s-General are now placed at a level equivalent to that of High Court Judges, making it institutionally coherent and legally appropriate for the Attorney-General to be subject to the higher threshold applicable to the Supreme Court.
Clause 6 amends section 120 of the Constitution to allow the President to appoint ten senators, increasing the total number of senators from eighty to ninety, The amendment is intended to broaden technical expertise within Parliament, enhance oversight, expand the pool of potential Minister’s and promote national cohesion.
In addition, clause 9, 10,11 establish the Zimbabwe Electoral Delimitation Commission and transfer the function of delimitation of electoral boundaries from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the new Commission.
The reform addresses concerns relating to institutional overlap and perceived conflicts arising from ZEC’s dual role, and promotes good governance, institutional integrity and functional specialization.
Clause 12 and 16 repeal sections 239(c) to (e) that relate to the registration of voters, compilation of voter’s roll and registers, and ensure proper custody and maintenance of the voters’ roll is transferred to the Registrar-General.
Clause 15 amends 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 amendment is intended to reinforce the provision of section 213 and 214 of the Constitution.
Additionally, clause 17 repeals Part 4 of Chapter 12 of the Constitution, which establishes the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, and transfers its functions and responsibilities to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission. The amendment aims to consolidate oversight of human rights, including gender equality, under a single institution, promoting greater efficiency, coherence, and effectiveness in the protection of fundamental rights.
