Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No. 3, 2026 - Full Text

The Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No. 3, 2026, introduces a set of reforms intended to reinforce constitutional governance, strengthen democratic structures, clarify institutional mandates, and harmonize Zimbabwe’s constitutional order with practices adopted in other jurisdictions.

Key Provisions

• Presidential Election Process: Replaces the direct election of the President with a parliamentary system, where the President is elected by Members of Parliament sitting jointly as the Senate and National Assembly.
• Term Extensions: Extends the term of office for the President and Parliament from five to seven years.
• Judicial Appointments: Amends procedures for appointing judges and the Attorney-General, including qualifications and consultation processes.
• Electoral Management: Transfers responsibility for registering voters and maintaining voters’ rolls from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to the Registrar-General.
• Constitutional Commissions: Establishes a new Zimbabwe Electoral Delimitation Commission responsible for drawing electoral boundaries and dissolves the Zimbabwe Gender Commission and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission.

Implications

The Bill forms part of a broader constitutional evolution aimed at improving institutional efficiency, political inclusivity, and long-term national stability. However, it has sparked significant debate regarding its impact on democratic processes and governance structures in Zimbabwe.