CONSTITUTION OF ZIMBABWE (AMENDMENT) BILL (NO. 3), 2026
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| SECTION | 🔵 CURRENT CONSTITUTION | 🟠 PROPOSED AMENDMENT (NO. 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration (New Section 43A) | Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) registers voters, compiles and maintains voters’ roll. | Registrar-General assumes responsibility for voter registration, compilation and custody of voters’ roll. |
| Section 92 – Election of President | President elected directly by voters in a national election. | President elected by Members of Parliament sitting jointly (Senate + National Assembly). Majority required. Run-off if no absolute majority. |
| Section 95 – Presidential Term | Five-year term. | Seven-year term. Includes clause stating amendment applies to continuation in office notwithstanding Section 328(7). |
| Section 100 – Acting President | Refers to “first Vice President.” | Deletes the word “first.” |
| Section 101 – Succession | Vice President assumes office until next election. | Parliamentary election process under Section 92 applies in case of vacancy. |
| Section 114 – Attorney-General Qualifications | Must qualify for appointment as High Court judge. | Must qualify for appointment as Supreme Court judge. |
| Section 120 – Composition of Senate | 80 Senators. | 90 Senators. 10 appointed by President for professional skills and competencies. |
| Section 143 – Duration of Parliament | Five-year term. | Seven-year term. Applies to continuation in office notwithstanding Section 328(7). |
| Section 158 – Timing of Elections | Elections held 30 days before expiry of five-year term. | Elections held 30 days before expiry of seven-year term. Removes reference to “President and” in subsection (2). |
| New Section 159A – Delimitation | ZEC responsible for delimitation of boundaries. | Establishes Zimbabwe Electoral Delimitation Commission appointed by President. |
| Sections 160 & 161 – Delimitation | ZEC conducts boundary delimitation. | Zimbabwe Electoral Delimitation Commission conducts delimitation. Extends timeframe from 6 months to 18 months. |
| Section 167 – Jurisdiction of Constitutional Court | Court hears constitutional matters only. | Court may hear any matter raising an arguable point of law of general public importance. |
| Section 180 – Appointment of Judges | Judicial Service Commission conducts public interviews and recommends candidates. | Repeals subsections (3), (4), (4a) and (5). Judges appointed after consultation with JSC. |
| Section 212 – Defence Forces | Defence Forces mandated “to uphold this Constitution.” | Phrase replaced with “in accordance with the Constitution.” |
| Section 239 – Functions of ZEC | ZEC manages voter registration, delimitation and electoral functions. | Repeals several ZEC functions. Some transferred to Registrar-General and Delimitation Commission. |
| Chapter 12 Part 4 – Zimbabwe Gender Commission | Zimbabwe Gender Commission exists as independent constitutional commission. | Repealed. Functions transferred to Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission. |
| Section 243 – ZHRC Functions | Protects and promotes human rights and freedoms. | Explicitly includes gender equality functions. |
| Section 259 – Prosecutor-General | Appointed by President on advice of Judicial Service Commission. | Removes requirement for appointment “on advice of” JSC. |
| Section 281(2) – Traditional Leaders | Prohibits traditional leaders from being partisan. | Subsection repealed. Code of conduct to be governed by Act of Parliament. |
| Chapter 12 Part 6 – National Peace and Reconciliation Commission | NPRC established as constitutional commission. | Repealed. Commission dissolved. |
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