By Aldridge Dzvene
HARARE – President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has signed the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment) Act Number 3 (CAB3) into law, marking the conclusion of the legislative process after the Bill was approved by both the National Assembly and the Senate and subsequently gazetted.
The new law introduces a number of amendments to Zimbabwe’s constitutional framework, including changes to the election of the President, the tenure of elected public office holders, the structure of Parliament and aspects of the judiciary and electoral administration.
Among the key provisions, the President will now be elected by Members of Parliament sitting jointly, replacing the previous system of direct election by the electorate. The Act also extends the terms of office for the President and Members of Parliament from five years to seven years.
The legislation further requires that the Attorney-General possess the qualifications necessary for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court, while also expanding the Senate by allowing the President to appoint an additional 10 senators.
The Act transfers responsibility for voter registration and the custody of voters’ rolls to the Registrar-General and establishes a new constitutional arrangement for constituency and ward delimitation. It also removes the requirement for public interviews in the appointment of judges.
In the event of a vacancy in the Office of the President, a Vice-President will act as President pending the election of a substantive President by Parliament within 30 days. The amendments also create the office of Judge President of the Supreme Court and expand the court’s appellate jurisdiction in matters involving important points of law, subject to leave being granted.
The constitutional amendments represent one of the most significant reforms to Zimbabwe’s governance framework in recent years and take effect following their publication in the Government Gazette.
