Zimbabwe: Chamisa Says Mnangagwa Digging His Own Grave By Forcing Constitution Amendment Bill 3 On Zimbabweans

Lead

Zimbabwe's Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) has sparked a multi-front battle, with opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, retired military generals, and voters taking legal action against the proposed changes. The bill, which seeks to extend the terms of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Parliament, and local authorities, is currently being debated in Parliament.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from AllAfrica paint a picture of a government pushing ahead with constitutional changes despite significant opposition. One report focuses on President Mnangagwa's defiant response to retired generals and former senior civil servants who oppose the bill. Another highlights remarks by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who acknowledged long-standing allegations of electoral violence and rigging while defending the amendments.

A third report details a legal challenge filed by voters from over 60 constituencies, while a fourth covers opposition MP Thomas Muwodzeri's criticism of the government's justification for the bill. Finally, a fifth report captures Chamisa's blunt assessment that Mnangagwa is "digging his own grave."

Key Claims

President's Push to Extend Term

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is pushing for Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 to extend his term in office beyond the constitutionally stipulated two terms, according to reports. The bill would extend the terms of the president, Parliament, and local authorities by two years, effectively postponing the next harmonised elections from 2028 to 2030.

Opposition from Retired Generals and Senior Civil Servants

Retired military generals and former senior civil servants are against the bill, as reported by AllAfrica. Retired Air Marshal Henry Muchena, speaking on behalf of the group, revealed that two meetings with Mnangagwa "failed to produce any result." Muchena said the President responded "whoever wins, wins" to their concerns, and added: "It has therefore become clear that the President is both the principal architect and the principal beneficiary of CAB3."

Chamisa's Strong Opposition

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, who last challenged Mnangagwa under the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) banner in the 2023 elections, described CAB3 as an error that will be corrected by citizens. Speaking on the sidelines of a celebration marking America's 250th independence anniversary, Chamisa said: "What Mnangagwa is doing is going to be a catalyst for change in this country. They are making a fundamental mistake, a national error but that error will be corrected by citizens." He added: "We do not need to stop this bill, at times you do not need to stop someone who is determined to commit suicide. You let them commit suicide and celebrate their demise."

Proposed Changes to Presidential Elections

The bill proposes replacing direct presidential elections with a system under which the president would be elected by MPs sitting jointly as the National Assembly and Senate, according to reports. It also proposes extending the terms of office of the president, MPs, and local authorities from five years to seven years.

Legal Challenge by Voters

Members of Parliament from over 60 constituencies were served with court papers challenging CAB3, as reported by AllAfrica. The applications, filed in the Constitutional Court by voters, seek an order compelling the government to subject the proposed amendments to a national referendum before Parliament proceeds further.

In one application, Gokwe Kana voter Nebati Mutaurwa argues that the proposed amendments violate Section 328(7) of the Constitution, which prevents office bearers from benefiting from changes to term limits during their current tenure. "The proposed clause is constitutionally offensive on its face," the application states. "It is purported amendment by evasion." The applicants also contend that transferring the election of the president from voters to Parliament would undermine political rights protected under Section 67 of the Constitution.

Accusations of Vote Buying

A US$31 million purse has been set aside to buy votes from legislators, according to two of the reports. The reports did not provide further details on this claim.

Perspectives

Government and ZANU PF

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, presenting CAB3 for its Second Reading in the National Assembly, argued that the bill will reduce electoral violence. He said: "Each electoral cycle made them worse. First is the perennially disputed presidential elections. Every contest of the President that this nation has held since the turn of the century has been marred by relentless allegations of violence, rigging, of opacity, eroding public trust and the legitimacy of the result. This is not my characterisation alone. It is documented notably in the observer reports." The government has also argued that frequent election cycles divert attention and resources away from development.

Opposition and Civil Society

CCC MP Thomas Muwodzeri accused the government of using electoral violence as an excuse to curtail democratic rights. "The argument that the model reduces electoral violence is an admission of institutional failure, not a constitutional solution," he told Parliament. He argued that if presidential elections are marred by violence, the solution lies in reforming law enforcement agencies and ensuring those responsible are prosecuted rather than removing citizens' right to vote directly for the country's leader. "You do not kill electoral violence by abolishing elections," Muwodzeri said.

Chamisa said Ziyambi's remarks vindicate the opposition's claims about electoral problems. The legal applicants, including voters like Mutaurwa, argue that Parliament cannot lawfully extend the tenure of sitting legislators through a constitutional amendment and that the issues "concern whether incumbents may constitutionally prolong their own tenure in office and whether the people may be stripped of their vote in the election of the President without direct approval of the people."

Retired Generals and Former Civil Servants

Retired Air Marshal Henry Muchena, speaking for a group of retired generals and former senior civil servants, expressed concerns about the alienation of citizens from the constitutional order. "That response speaks for itself. It lays bare the contempt with which the constitutional concerns of citizens and members of our party are regarded at the highest level of executive authority," he said. "What became unambiguously clear from those engagements is that the welfare of the party and the wellbeing of the people are no longer the primary considerations driving this process."