Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka [email protected]
THE historic 90-day public consultation period for the proposed Constitution Amendment Bill (No. 3) officially lapses today, paving the way for the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to begin compiling a comprehensive report on views gathered from Zimbabweans nationwide.
The Bill proposes a parliamentary process for the election of the President and seeks to replace the current five-year term with a seven-year tenure. It also introduces a range of legal reforms aimed at strengthening constitutional governance, clarifying institutional roles, promoting political stability and enhancing the efficiency of the State architecture.
According to the Government Gazette, the Bill forms part of Zimbabwe’s ongoing legal evolution.
The expiry of the consultations, conducted in terms of Section 328 of the Constitution, marks one of the country’s largest public participation exercises in recent constitutional reform processes, with Parliament receiving more than 300 000 submissions from citizens and organisations.
The proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, gazetted on February 16, seeks to amend several provisions of the Constitution and could significantly reshape aspects of Zimbabwe’s governance, electoral administration and institutional framework.
In an exclusive interview on the final day of the consultation deadline, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi confirmed that the next stage of the process would shift to preparation of the committee report before the Bill is formally introduced for substantive debate in Parliament.
“May 18 (today) is the day the 90 days of consultations will lapse, leading to the committee on justice preparing the report of consultations.
“The message to the nation will be contained in my second reading speech in Parliament. The detailed unpacking of the Bill will be in my second reading speech in Parliament.”
He said the views gathered during the nationwide consultations would be fully captured in the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee’s report.
“The views from consultations will be in the report that will be compiled by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Parliament adjourned to May 26,” said Minister Ziyambi.
Under Section 328 of the Constitution, Constitutional Amendment Bills are required to undergo a mandatory 90-day public consultation process before they can proceed through Parliament.
During the consultation period, Parliament received more than 300 000 submissions from members of the public through written submissions, emails and oral presentations made during nationwide public hearings conducted between March 31 and April 2 across the country’s 64 districts. The consultations were aimed at ensuring citizens directly participate in shaping proposed constitutional changes in line with constitutional requirements on participatory governance.
Although the official consultation deadline fell yesterday, submissions continue to be accepted today, as the final day coincided with a Sunday, in line with procedural requirements.
Minister Ziyambi said Parliament would first require adequate time to process and analyse the submissions before debate on the Bill could commence.
“Parliament, through the Portfolio Committee on Justice, after May 18, will sit to produce a committee report on public consultations.
