Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3)

The Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, officially titled the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, 2026 (H.B. 1 of 2026), and known colloquially as CAB3, is a proposed constitutional amendment bill introduced in the Parliament of Zimbabwe in February 2026. The Bill seeks to make wide-ranging changes to the 2013 Constitution, including replacing the direct popular election of the President with election by a joint sitting of Parliament, extending the terms of office of the President, Parliament and local authorities from five to seven years, enlarging the Senate and allowing the President to appoint ten additional senators on the basis of professional skills, establishing a new Zimbabwe Electoral Delimitation Commission, transferring responsibility for the voters’ roll to the Registrar-General, and repealing the Zimbabwe Gender Commission and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission. The Bill was published in a Government Gazette Extraordinary on 16 February 2026, triggering the Second Reading in Parliament. According to allAfrica.com, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has criticized the Bill, stating that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is 'digging his own grave' by forcing the Bill through Parliament. The Bill has also received support from some quarters, with the Patriotic Vendors 4ED National Executive Committee welcoming what it described as 'overwhelming public support' for the Bill.

The proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 has sparked intense debate in Zimbabwe, with various stakeholders weighing in on the issue. According to aciafrica.org, Christian leaders have called on citizens to engage in prayer and reflection as Parliament continues deliberations on the Bill. The Bill has also been criticized by some groups, including Women of Zimbabwe and ACTSA, who have objected to the Bill on various grounds. The Bill's passage through Parliament has significant implications for the country's governance and electoral system, and its impact will be closely watched by observers.