Tinotenda Hove- The controversial Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill (CAB3) is now moving into its final stage, with Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi confirming that Parliament is preparing to send the Bill to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for assent — a development likely to intensify concerns over executive overreach and the weakening of constitutional safeguards.

Speaking on Tuesday, Ziyambi outlined the next procedural step, saying Parliament would formally transmit the legislation to the President for signature. “Parliament will now transmit the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill (CAB3) to His Excellency President Mnangagwa for assent and signature,” he said.

Once signed, the Bill will be published in the Government Gazette and immediately become part of Zimbabwe’s supreme law, effectively cementing changes that critics say could tilt the balance of power further toward the executive.

Ziyambi also suggested there would be little delay in the process. “The timing depends on how quickly the Bill is transmitted,” he said, adding that “the President normally assents to Bills promptly upon receipt.”

His remarks have raised fresh alarm among constitutional experts, opposition figures, and civic groups who argue that CAB3 is not merely an administrative amendment but a politically charged restructuring of state power. Critics say the speed with which the Bill is being pushed toward enactment reflects a troubling pattern in which major constitutional changes are handled with limited public consultation and minimal scrutiny.

For many observers, the biggest concern is what CAB3 represents beyond its legal text: the steady normalization of constitutional amendments that serve political interests rather than democratic accountability.

Detractors argue that a constitution is meant to restrain power, not be repeatedly reshaped to accommodate those already in authority.
The rapid progression of CAB3 has therefore fueled accusations that Parliament is acting less as an independent legislative body and more as a conveyor belt for executive priorities. With assent appearing all but guaranteed, questions are mounting over whether meaningful checks and balances still exist within Zimbabwe’s governance framework.

As CAB3 inches closer to becoming law, the debate is shifting from whether it will pass to what its passage says about the state of Zimbabwean democracy. To critics, the message is increasingly clear: constitutional reform is becoming less about protecting citizens and more about consolidating power at the top.