Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
MATABELELAND North Province has thrown its full weight behind the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 3) Bill, 2026, hailing it as a progressive milestone that strengthens the province’s rapid development trajectory.
Stakeholders across local authorities, legal circles and the tourism sector say the proposed amendments guarantee the policy consistency needed to sustain unprecedented growth in mining, infrastructure and empowerment programmes.
With major investments filtering through the mining value chain and ongoing road upgrades transforming the province’s landscape, residents and leaders say they are determined to protect the momentum.
“This Bill is about protecting our growth trajectory. We have momentum, and this amendment ensures the development wave continues without disruption,” Hwange Local Board chairperson, Councillor Peterson Ncube, said.
His sentiments were echoed by local resident Ms Norah Dube, who said the province is experiencing economic activity at a scale never seen before.
“We cannot afford to go backwards. The progress we see in roads, in our communities, and in business opportunities must be safeguarded. This amendment gives us that certainty,” she said.
Legal experts have also backed the Bill, describing it as a significant recalibration of Zimbabwe’s democratic framework that aligns the nation with practices adopted by the world’s most progressive states.
Tourism expert Dr Clement Mukwasi explained that the reforms adjust the system of electing the President and the national election cycle without altering the fundamental structure of Government.
“These changes are strategic, forward-looking, and patriotic. By aligning with best practices in the SADC region and the Commonwealth, the reforms promote institutional maturity and enduring stability,” he said.
Dr Mukwasi outlined four principles underpinning the reforms, emphasising that the 10th Parliament has full authority to amend the Constitution.
He stressed that the requirement for a referendum is reserved strictly for amendments to Chapter 4 (Declaration of Rights), Chapter 16 (Agricultural Land), and section 328.
“Claims that amending a term-limit provision necessarily triggers a referendum are false. The Constitution mandates referendums only for amendments to Chapters 4 and 16 and section 328. Not a single term-limit provision falls under these protected categories,” he said.
Legal practitioner Mr Tonderai Mutasa described the Bill as a decisive step in Zimbabwe’s constitutional evolution, saying it delivers transformational reforms that strengthen constitutional governance and revitalise democratic institutions.
“This landmark Bill modernises and streamlines our constitutional architecture while faithfully upholding the enduring values of the 2013 Constitution,” he said.
“The amendments mark a confident, strategic refinement of governance that champions institutional efficiency, political inclusivity, and unbreakable long-term national stability,” Mr Mutasa said.
He noted that the Bill positions Zimbabwe among Africa’s most effective, resilient and widely respected constitutional systems.
“The Bill, which was birthed by our Party’s People’s National Conference is an exemplary statement about the revolutionary and vanguard role of Zanu PF as the thought leader in our society,” he said.
For Matabeleland North, the constitutional reforms come at a time of significant economic transformation.
With major investments unlocking the full potential of the mining value chain — from extraction to beneficiation — and road upgrades linking the province to regional markets, stakeholders say the legal framework must evolve to keep pace.
Tourism players also weighed in, saying policy consistency is essential for attracting long-term investment required to develop the province’s natural assets, including Hwange National Park and Victoria Falls
