Tinotenda Hove – Parliament is expected to finalize the controversial Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill this Tuesday, in what critics say is yet another rushed legislative process designed to push through sweeping constitutional changes with minimal scrutiny.

The National Assembly has been called for an extraordinary sitting on June 30 to deliberate on six amendments proposed by the Senate after the upper chamber endorsed the Bill with backing from 75 senators. Once approved, the Bill will be sent to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for assent, paving the way for it to become law.

Observers have raised concerns over the speed with which the process is being concluded, arguing that such fundamental constitutional changes deserve wider public debate rather than being hurried through Parliament.

Clerk of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Chokuda, confirmed that legislators had been summoned to complete the final legislative stage.

“The National Assembly members were summoned by His Excellency and will sit this Tuesday to consider the amendments proposed by the Senate. Our laws require that the same Bill text be passed by both Houses, so the National Assembly will consider those six amendments,” he said.

Chokuda sought to downplay the significance of the remaining process, suggesting Parliament’s final review would be largely procedural.

“The process is not a long one. It should take an hour at most, and once it is completed, it will mark the end of the parliamentary process before the Bill is transmitted to the President for assent to become law.”

His remarks have fueled criticism from those who argue that reducing constitutional amendments to a one-hour exercise reflects a worrying disregard for democratic accountability.

According to Chokuda, the Senate’s proposed amendments are mostly technical adjustments aimed at refining the language of the Bill.

“There are a total of six amendments which the National Assembly will consider. Most are consequential amendments, with the Senate essentially cleaning up the Bill,” he said.

Despite being described as minor, some of the amendments involve significant institutional changes, including shifting certain responsibilities from the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, as well as altering procedures surrounding Parliament’s first sitting after a presidential election.

Originally gazetted on February 16 with 22 clauses, the Bill has since expanded to 26 clauses following amendments from both Houses, raising further questions about transparency and legislative consistency.
For many critics, the rapid progression of CAB 3 reinforces fears that constitutional reform is increasingly being used as a political tool rather than a democratic process rooted in broad citizen consultation.