Minister urges citizens to support seven‑year term proposal

Minister Richard Moyo

MATABELELAND NORTH Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard Moyo, has urged Zanu-PF members and Zimbabweans at large to back the Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, describing the proposed legislative changes as a critical step in the country’s governance evolution.

Addressing a gathering in Nyamandlovu, Umguza District, last Friday, Moyo said the Bill is essential to aligning national laws with the developmental aspirations of the Second Republic.

He was speaking during the official handover of Chief Deli’s house, a project spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.

The Government recently gazetted the Bill, initiating a 90-day public consultation period.

The process will allow citizens to submit their views before Parliament deliberates on the draft law. It proposes a Parliamentary process for the election of the President and seeks to replace the current five-year term with a seven-year tenure.

Minister Moyo said these changes were not unique to Zimbabwe, citing regional precedents.

“The Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill was tabled before Cabinet last week, and as Parliamentarians, we are ready for it. As the communities from which this call originated, you must also be prepared.

“Zimbabwe is not the first to take this path; countries like South Africa and Lesotho, among other African nations, are implementing similar legislative shifts. We want to ensure that our ‘2030’ slogans are enshrined in law so that they are not just words, but a legal reality,” said Minister Moyo.

He said the legislative shift follows positions adopted during previous party engagements.

Resolution Number 1, adopted at the National People’s Conferences in 2024 and 2025, forms the basis of the proposed amendments.

“The people have agreed that we want an extension of the President’s tenure to 2030 so that he can complete his developmental projects. While a few may be disgruntled, the majority are in favour of this move.

“When the majority speaks, the only option is to join the train and move forward with the rest of the nation. Last year in Mutare, all provinces endorsed this resolution, agreeing that the President should have his term extended to 2030 to finish the work they started. We want to extend the President’s term by two years to also synchronise the electoral calendar,” said the minister.

Highlighting the case for continuity, Minister Moyo pointed to infrastructure programmes under way in Matabeleland North and nationally. He argued that President Mnangagwa’s “unprecedented” scale of projects warranted time to see them through to completion.

“With the advent of the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa, we have witnessed the completion and commissioning of Hwange Units 7 and 8. The construction of Chief Deli’s house is a direct result of the development brought about by the President’s vision.”

Minister Moyo said tangible results under the Second Republic were transforming social services in the region. These include modern health facilities and a range of technology, infrastructure and new business investment projects.

“Regarding our infrastructure, President Mnangagwa’s term must be extended to ensure these projects reach the finish line. As we speak, contractors are arriving to rehabilitate the Bulawayo Nyamandlovu Tsholotsho Road.

“Currently, we have eight contractors working on the Bulawayo Victoria Falls Road, two on the Bulawayo Nkayi Road, and another two on the Lupane Nkayi Kwekwe Road. These roads are vital for connecting our rural districts to the national economy and turning Matabeleland North into a major transport hub. We are only left with the Cross Dete Kamativi Binga Road, which will be attended to very soon.”

The minister stressed the importance of grassroots participation, urging traditional leaders and villagers to mobilise and engage actively when Parliamentary committees begin collecting public views next month. He said the success of the legislative agenda rests on the collective voice expressed during the 90-day consultation window.

“It’s vital that we have the numbers in Parliament to vote for our President and ensure this vision is fulfilled. As the primary beneficiaries of the Second Republic’s developmental projects, you must speak with one voice to ensure that the law reflects your desire for continuity.

“We need this legislative framework to be rock solid so that the President has the legal mandate to finish the roads, the dams, and the clinics he has started. Next month, when the committees arrive, you must come out in your thousands to defend Resolution Number 1 and ensure our 2030 vision becomes a legal reality,” he stated.

Briefing the media recently in Harare, Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, said the party was confident the Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill will be enacted into law, citing the ruling party’s Parliamentary majority. He said the amendment would also facilitate implementation of the party’s Resolution Number 1.