Harare – Hwange Central legislator Daniel Molokele has rejected the two-year term extension proposed under the contentious Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), vowing to step down in 2028 unless the people of Hwange approve his extended tenure through a referendum.

The outspoken opposition MP described the bill as an internal Zanu PF succession process and accused the ruling party of abusing Parliament to resolve its own internal political battles.

His comments come as Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi on Tuesday formally introduced CAB3 for its First Reading in the National Assembly, launching the legislative process for the controversial amendments in Parliament.

CAB3, which was gazetted on February 16 and has attracted over 300,000 public submissions, seeks to extend the electoral cycle from five to seven years, effectively extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure to 2030. The bill also proposes to transfer the power to elect the President from the general public to Parliament.

Molokele however declared that under no circumstance would he personally benefit from the extra two years.

“I cannot add two more years to myself. The people of Hwange need to do that. The best constitutional mechanism is a referendum, ” he said.

The MP drew a firm line on the legitimacy of the parliamentary process, stating that whatever Parliament decides would be “null and void” in his view.

“I do not recognise this fake two-year extension. I do not recognise this CAB3 process because it is not for the benefit of the people, ” he said.

He insisted that any attempt to alter his term of office must go directly to the electorate from his constituency.

“The people of Hwange voted for me from 2023 to 2028, and my term of office is going to last for five years. Anything outside that needs a referendum. It needs the people of Hwange, ” Molokele said.

“If it is necessary, I have to step down in 2028, and the people of Hwange will have to vote for a new parliamentarian because my term of office would have expired, ” he added.

Critics, including retired Air Marshal Henry Muchena, have warned legislators that history would judge those who back the bill at the expense of the Constitution.

Zanu PF national spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa in a press statement recently said that the party will not interfere with the remaining CAB3 processes but expressed confidence the bill will receive parliamentary approval.

Ziyambi has ruled out a secret ballot on the bill, warning of recall consequences for Zanu PF members who defy the party line.