Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino
Zimpapers Politics Hub
Experts in politics and electoral processes have added their voices on Cabinet’s approval of Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill of 2026 that proposes a parliamentary process for the election of the President.
The Bill, among other legal reforms, also seeks to replace the current five-year term with a seven-year term for the President, strengthen constitutional governance, clarify institutional roles, promote political stability and enhance the efficiency of the State architecture.
Zimbabwe’s newly approved position, if adopted through parliamentary passage, will also move to align the country’s electoral landscape and practices with regional standards in Angola, Botswana, South Africa and Mauritius among others.
Writing on his X handle on what he termed “presidential election tidbits”, political scientist and former Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, pushed the clock the past, reminding the nation that the trajectory Zimbabwe is about to take is not new.
“Between 1980 and 1990 the head of the executive in Zimbabwe was not directly elected. The direct election of the President was first introduced in 1990 under Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No.7 (Act 23 of 1987) which inaugurated the Executive Presidency,” Prof Moyo said.
Under Zimbabwe’s independence electoral system, the late former President Robert Mugabe first served as Prime Minister from 1980-1987; elected President by the parliament in 1987 and re-elected directly through a popular vote in 1990.
Added Prof Moyo: “Within SADC, in Angola the President is elected indirectly in terms of the 2010 Constitution. Voters elect members of the National Assembly (Parliament), and the individual at the top of the candidate list for the political party that wins the most seats automatically becomes the President. Direct presidential elections in Angola were last held in 1992!”
Political commentator, Mr Dereck Goto, said the approved constitutional reform was meant to determine sustainability, long-term stability and administrative efficiency.
“The 2026 Constitutional Amendment Bill proposes extended terms, parliamentary presidential election, electoral realignment and institutional consolidation aimed at long-term stability and administrative efficiency. Reform is about structure – structure determines sustainability,” Mr Goto said.
