Parliament adjourns shortly before midnight as CAB 3 voting beckons

Parliament itself, in both the National Assembly and the Senate, had a lot to say and changes were made in both Houses to make the original Amendment Bill more acceptable and work better.

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]

PARLIAMENT adjourned shortly before midnight on Wednesday after an exhaustive clause-by-clause interrogation of the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB 3), setting the stage for a decisive vote by legislators this afternoon.

The Bill successfully cleared the Committee Stage following intense scrutiny by Members of Parliament, who have spent the past two weeks debating its provisions in detail.

Debate on the proposed constitutional amendments frequently stretched late into the night as lawmakers from across the political divide weighed in on various clauses, proposed amendments and points of interpretation.

With the Committee Stage now complete, the Bill advances to the next phase of the legislative process, where Parliament is expected to vote on its adoption before proceeding to the Third Reading.

In an advisory notice, Parliament outlined the process that will unfold today.

“The next stage is consideration by the House of amendments approved by the Committee of the Whole House during Committee Stage. This marks formal adoption of the amendments by the House, and voting and Third Reading follows immediately thereafter,” said Parliament.

As a Constitutional Bill, CAB 3 requires the support of at least two-thirds of the total membership of Parliament to pass.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, confirmed that voting will take place this afternoon.

“Yes, voting is there today and then Third Reading,” said Minister Ziyambi.