The Government has officially gazetted the draft Constitutional Amendment (No. 3) Bill, paving the way for it to be tabled before Parliament following Cabinet approval last week.
Publication of the Bill in the Government Gazette on Monday marks the formal beginning of the legislative process in line with parliamentary procedures.
Gazetting the Bill, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda said the proposed law is designed to modernise and streamline elements of Zimbabwe’s constitutional framework while preserving the core values of the 2013 Constitution.
“THE following Bill is published with this Gazette in terms of Standing Order No. 142(2) of the National Assembly, Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (No. 3) (H.B. 1, 2026),” Mudenda said.
He added that the Bill introduces reforms aimed at reinforcing constitutional governance, strengthening democratic institutions, clarifying institutional mandates and aligning Zimbabwe’s constitutional order with practices adopted in progressive jurisdictions across Africa.
In a detailed explanation, Mudenda said:
“This Bill introduces a set of constructive reforms that, taken together, reinforce constitutional governance, strengthen democratic structures, clarify institutional mandates, and harmonise Zimbabwe’s constitutional order with tested and successful practices in other progressive jurisdictions. The Bill modernises and streamlines various aspects of the constitutional architecture while upholding the values of the 2013 Constitution.
The amendments form part of a broader constitutional evolution … one grounded in deliberate refinement of governance frameworks, institutional efficiency, political inclusivity, and long-term national stability. Many of the reforms align Zimbabwe with contemporary African constitutional standards that have proven to be effective, resilient and widely respected.”
Among the key proposals is the introduction of a parliamentary method of electing the President. Under this system, a candidate must secure a majority of votes in Parliament. If no candidate achieves an absolute majority, a run-off would be conducted.
The process would be supervised by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to ensure transparency and full compliance with constitutional and legal provisions.
Explaining the proposal, Mudenda said:
“This amendment establishes a parliamentary method for selecting the President. It specifies that a candidate must secure a majority of votes, and if no one achieves an absolute majority, a run-off election will be held. The process is overseen by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to ensure it is conducted properly. These measures strengthen constitutional accountability by promoting fairness, openness and judicial oversight.”
The Bill states that the reforms are intended to promote fairness, transparency and judicial oversight in presidential selection, enhancing constitutional accountability.
The draft legislation is expected to be debated in Parliament in the coming weeks.
