The proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) is increasingly convincing citizens that Parliament is abandoning its duty to serve the people and is instead protecting political privilege.
If CAB3 proceeds, Zimbabwe could become one of the few countries in the world where sitting Members of Parliament effectively vote to extend their own stay in office. Many citizens see this not as democracy, but as political self-preservation.
Zimbabweans voted for a five-year parliamentary term. Now, without returning to the electorate, some lawmakers appear willing to change the rules for their own convenience. That is not what citizens voted for.
The anger among ordinary Zimbabweans is understandable. Many MPs have already benefited from privileges unavailable to the public, including:
US$40,000 vehicle loans that many believe will never be repaid;
Duty-free vehicle import schemes;
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Access to land and housing opportunities that ordinary citizens can only dream of.
Meanwhile, ordinary Zimbabweans are battling unemployment, collapsing public services, rising poverty, poor healthcare, and a lack of affordable housing.
Citizens are asking simple questions:
Why are political leaders always quick to improve their own lives?
Why are benefits reserved for politicians while ordinary citizens struggle?
Why should MPs receive duty-free vehicle privileges when nurses, teachers, engineers, and vendors receive nothing?
The frustration is not only about CAB3. It reflects a broader political culture in which public office increasingly appears to serve the office-holder before the people.
There is also growing public concern over land and environmental issues. Questions continue to be raised about developments in areas such as Marlborough and the Monavale wetlands, with citizens demanding transparency, accountability, and adherence to lawful procedures. Zimbabwe’s wetlands and open spaces are national assets, not political rewards.
What many Zimbabweans want is simple:
constitutionalism,
accountability,
equal opportunity,
and leadership that respects the people’s mandate.
The Constitution belongs to the people of Zimbabwe, not to politicians.
Zimbabweans are not foolish. Elections will eventually return, and citizens remember who stood with them and who stood for personal benefit.
The strongest message citizens can send is through democratic participation. Voters must carefully examine the record of every MP and ask whether that representative truly served the people or merely protected political privilege.
Public office is not a pathway to wealth and comfort while millions suffer. Leadership must come with responsibility, sacrifice, and accountability.
The people are watching.