NEGOTIATIONS between a parliamentary caucus led by self-styled Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu and Zanu PF over the controversial Constitution Amendment No 3 Bill (CAB 3) remain deadlocked.
Tshabangu has issued an ultimatum to the ruling party, giving it until midnight tomorrow to secure a political agreement or risk the Bill’s failure in Parliament.
The standoff underscores the burgeoning political leverage of Tshabangu’s bloc.
While Zanu PF commands a comfortable majority in the National Assembly, the ruling party requires support from Tshabangu-aligned legislators to secure the critical two-thirds majority needed in the Senate to pass the amendment.
Tshabangu disclosed the impasse yesterday in a statement issued via his spokesperson, Nqobizitha Mlilo.
He made it clear that the party's caucus will not automatically endorse the proposed changes, demanding “meaningful and good-faith concessions” before taking a final stance.
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Despite the friction, Tshabangu described the nature of the talks as professional.
“So far, both the minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Ziyambi Ziyambi and the Zanu PF chief whip, Hon Togarepi, have conducted themselves in the most exemplary way,” he said, noting that engagements have been “cordial” and “respectful,” Mlilo said.
However, the core of the dispute remains unresolved.
“We are not simply going to be an implementation arm of a Zanu PF conference resolution. We are not voting cows,” Mlilo warned.
He insisted that Zanu PF must offer a “sincere, broad-based political settlement” that serves the national interest rather than a partisan agenda.
The deadline for negotiators is set for midnight Tuesday, ahead of a pivotal caucus meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, where Tshabangu’s legislators will determine their final vote.
“We need a solid and irrevocable political settlement,” Mlilo said, warning that failure to reach a deal will force adjustments to the Bill’s parliamentary timetable.
This sudden friction comes as a surprise to some, as Tshabangu-aligned legislators were among the most vocal supporters of CAB 3 during National Assembly debates last week.
By positioning his bloc as the gatekeeper of the Senate, Tshabangu has become a central player in determining the fate of the legislation.
While specific demands remain private, Tshabangu has previously advocated for a Government of National Unity (GNU), arguing that Zimbabwe’s economic and political crises require formal co-operation between rival parties.