MOUNTING political tension over the Constitution Amendment No 3 Bill (CAB 3) has spilled to the economy, with economists warning that the dispute can erode investor confidence and derail Zimbabwe’s fragile recovery.
The Bill, which passed through the National Assembly last week, is expected to be debated in the Senate this week. If adopted, it extends the terms of the President and Members of Parliament to 2030.
Economists have expressed concern that the prolonged debate around CAB 3 is overshadowing pressing economic issues at a time when Zimbabwe is striving to attain upper-middle-income status by 2030.
Political analysts and civic commentators have also warned that the passage of CAB 3 can deepen Zimbabwe’s constitutional crisis, weaken democratic institutions and further erode public confidence in the rule of law.
Speaking to NewsDay yesterday, economists argued that Zimbabwe’s fragile economic recovery requires urgent attention, with priority areas including industrialisation, value addition, agriculture, energy and healthcare.
Economist Chenayi Mutambasere said CAB 3 could further undermine investor confidence by creating uncertainty over the country’s governance and policy direction.
“Zimbabwe is still struggling to achieve meaningful beneficiation and value addition. We continue to export raw materials, which means we are losing jobs and potential income that could be generated locally,” she said.
“Investors are reluctant to make long-term commitments in an environment they perceive as unstable. Instead, many prefer short-term investments focused on extracting raw materials and leave.
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“The Constitution Amendment No 3 Bill introduces another layer of uncertainty and this is likely to affect investment decisions.”
Mutambasere said government resources and attention are diverted from critical sectors that require urgent intervention due to the Bill.
“We are witnessing major governance distortions that are contributing to instability. Government business is being shifted away from issues that matter most as authorities focus on debates and processes surrounding CAB 3,” she said.
“Resources are being spent on matters that many citizens never asked for, while key sectors such as energy, agriculture and healthcare continue to face significant challenges. Zimbabwe remains food insecure and these are the areas where government should be concentrating its efforts.”
However, economist Stevenson Dhlamini said the CAB 3 debate had not triggered a major economic shock but had contributed to an atmosphere of political uncertainty.
“The CAB 3 debate has not caused a dramatic economic disruption, but neither has it been neutral,” Dhlamini said.
“It has added a layer of political uncertainty at a time when the economy is already grappling with deep structural challenges. By consuming significant political attention, it has indirectly diverted focus from urgent economic reforms.
“If passed in its current form, the signal of extended political tenures may dampen business confidence and diaspora sentiment, modestly affecting investment and remittance flows.
“More importantly, it can complicate Zimbabwe’s debt re-engagement process, which depends on sustained democratic progress.”
He said any perception of governance backsliding risks slowing efforts to clear arrears and normalise relations with international financial institutions.
However, Dhlamini said no major fiscal or monetary disruptions were expected solely as a result of CAB 3.
Meanwhile, speaking to NewsDay from Bulawayo, political analyst Ben Moyo described the Bill’s progression as a sign of the “further entrenchment of Zanuism,” warning that the country risks sliding into deeper institutional decay.
“We expect to see growing looting. We expect to see a compromised Judiciary. We expect to see our situation deteriorating and getting worse, with the level of impunity growing,” he said.
Moyo further warned that CAB 3 can “put the final nail on constitutionalism,” saying Zimbabwe risks witnessing increased disregard for constitutional provisions and the rule of law.
Former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa's spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda said Zimbabweans must remain vigilant in defending constitutional governance and national resources.
“We have a beautiful and rich country Zimbabwe. We must strive to protect our wealth from the thieves around us,” said.
“Zimbabwe is our wealth — soon the people will have leadership for a better and brighter future.”
Public policy researcher and analyst Samukele Hadebe said public controversy around the Bill had largely been driven by disagreement over constitutional interpretation.
“Lawyers themselves did not help the public on the question of term limit and length and whether incumbents can benefit from any change without going to Parliament,” he said.
“Unfortunately, other aspects of the many changes were rarely scrutinised because they were all subsumed by the 2030 ndinenge ndiripo reality, as articulated by President ED himself.”
“But let us see what it actually means when it becomes law.”
