ZANU-PF Drops Two Clauses From CAB3 After Backlash

ZANU-PF has conceded that parts of the Constitution Amendment No 3 Bill are unpopular and will drop two contentious clauses, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told MPs as he wound up a seven-day second reading debate.

Ziyambi told the National Assembly on Wednesday that he would abandon plans to scrap the Zimbabwe Gender Commission and to allow chiefs to take part in partisan politics.

The minister made the concession after contributions from across the House, where a handful of vocal CCC MPs had slowed ZANU-PF’s push to fast-track the Bill.

He admitted MPs from both sides opposed scrapping the commission and changing the political status of chiefs.

Government was yielding on those two clauses, Ziyambi said, but was still pressing for term extensions.

Opening his reply, he gave a numerical breakdown of the debate. He said 182 MPs made substantive contributions – compared with 19 at the second reading of the first amendment in 2017 and 18 for the second in 2021.

Of the 182, he said, 111 backed the Bill outright, 31 backed it with reservations, 10 raised issues without taking a position, and 30 opposed it – leaving 142 “positively disposed” towards it.

He said the joint committee received 540,037 written submissions – 537,102 in support and 2,935 opposed – and that provincial hearings drew 54,231 people.

Ziyambi repeatedly cited the figures against MPs who questioned the consultation. He contrasted the turnout with 1,447 people recorded at hearings for the First Amendment in 2017.

After his reply, the Bill moved to committee stage, where MPs debated it clause by clause into the early hours of Thursday.

The stage was marked by procedural disputes, including a heated exchange over diaspora voting. Ziyambi told MPs he had no “instructions” or “authority” to extend a ruling, but said Zimbabweans abroad could, in principle, register and vote in their home constituencies, pending engagement with “the principals”.

Shortly before midnight, the temporary chair reported the Bill, with amendments, to the House. It was referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee, with consideration and a vote set for late Thursday. If passed, it goes to the Senate.

ZANU PF holds a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, and the Bill is expected to pass easily.

The party also effectively controls the Senate through elected seats and chiefs, giving it the numbers to amend the constitution.

More: ZimLive