INFORMATION minister,Soda Zhemu, says the signing of the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) into law by President Emmerson Mnangagwa is a significant milestone despite widespread opposition to the new law.
Opposition groups have announced plans for nationwide protests as well as a legal challenge to the new law that seeks to extend Mnangagwa's term extension and scrap direct presidential elections.
The law also proposes other far reaching changes to the 2013 constitution.
In a press statement, Zhemu, however, said the President’s assent to the Bill marked a significant milestone in the country’s constitutional development following an extensive national consultation process.
"This achievement belongs not to any one individual, party or institution. It belongs to the people of this great nation whose voices shaped the destiny of our nation,” said Zhemu.
"This was not merely a legislative exercise; it was a national conversation that reaffirmed the strength of our democracy."
According to Zhemu, Parliament received 540,037 written submissions and recorded 67,688 submissions during public hearings held across the country.
“Of these, 537,102 written submissions supported the Bill while only 2,935 opposed it. At the public hearings, 67,302 citizens backed the Bill against 386 who stood against it.strength of our democracy," he said.
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Opposition groups have flagged the public hearings as stage managed in favour of the ruling Zanu PF, citing violence against its members.
Lawyer Doug Coltart was assaulted and had his phone snatched by a Zanu Pf activist during one of the hearings in Harare.
In the National Assembly, 216 legislators voted in favour of the Bill against 42 who opposed it.
In the Senate, 75 senators supported the Bill while only four voted against.
“CAB3 is more than an amendment; it represents our collective resolve to build a stronger governance framework. The public consultations, parliamentary debates and committee scrutiny were thorough, inclusive and lawful," Zhemu added.
"CAB3 is not an end; it is the foundation upon which we will build a brighter future for generations to come."
The CAB3 came into effect after Mnangagwa assented to the Bill and it was subsequently gazetted into law.
