PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has recalled the National Assembly for an extraordinary sitting next Tuesday to consider amendments made by the Senate to the controversial Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill (CAB 3), which seeks to extend his tenure.
The National Assembly had been expected to resume sitting on July 7, after initially passing the Bill earlier this month.
However, legislators have now been summoned to return to Parliament on June 30 at 2:15pm to consider amendments introduced by the Senate before the legislation can be transmitted to the President for assent.
In a notice issued by the Clerk of Parliament, members were advised that the extraordinary sitting had been convened in terms of Section 110(2)(c) of the Constitution after Mnangagwa formally summoned the House.
“The Clerk of Parliament wishes to advise members of the National Assembly that in terms of Section 110(2)(c) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, His Excellency, the President, Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, has summoned the National Assembly to sit on Tuesday, 30th June 2026 at 1415 hours to consider the amendments to Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill (H.B. 1B, 2026) that was passed by the Senate,” the notice read.
The extraordinary sitting was also gazetted under General Notice 1003 of 2026.
The Bill has sparked intense public debate because it proposes constitutional changes that would extend the terms of office for Mnangagwa and the sitting Parliament beyond the current limit of five years.
Critics argue the changes will weaken constitutional safeguards.
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The Senate passed the Bill on Thursday after adopting several amendments, most of which were proposed by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.
Under Zimbabwe’s legislative process, the amended Bill must return to the Lower House for concurrence before it can be presented to Mnangagwa for assent.
The recall of Parliament comes despite Mnangagwa repeatedly describing himself as a constitutionalist who respects the country’s supreme law.
He has previously maintained that Zimbabwe’s Constitution should be upheld and has publicly stated that he has no intention of seeking to remain in office beyond the end of his constitutionally prescribed second and final term in 2028.
CAB 3 nevertheless remains one of the most contentious pieces of legislation before Parliament, drawing criticism from opposition parties, legal experts, and civil society organisations, who argue that some of its provisions erode constitutional protections and further concentrate executive influence over key state institutions.
