HARARE, Zimbabwe ─ Parliament erupted on Thursday as opposition MP Mai Kore publicly rejected the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) and launched a blistering attack on Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda and Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, accusing them of engineering a power grab that undermines Zimbabwe’s democratic foundations.
CAB3, formally titled the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, seeks to extend the presidential term from the current five-year, two-term limit to a six-year, two-term structure, effectively resetting the clock for President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Critics argue the amendment is a thinly veiled attempt to allow Mnangagwa, who has already served one term since 2017, to stay in office until 2032. The bill also consolidates executive powers and weakens independent commissions.
The Floor Erupts
Kore, a backbench MP from the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has been a vocal critic of the Mnangagwa administration. During Thursday’s debate, she seized on procedural irregularities, alleging that copies of the final draft were not distributed to MPs before the session. “This is a kangaroo process,” she shouted, pointing at Mudenda. “You are not a speaker; you are a rubber stamp for Ziyambi’s corruption.”
Independent political analyst Dr. Tafadzwa Mhute, who has followed the bill’s trajectory, said Kore’s outburst reflects a broader frustration with the erosion of parliamentary oversight. “What we saw today is the result of years of executive overreach. The speaker has repeatedly allowed the government to steamroll legislation without proper committee scrutiny. Mai Kore gave voice to many Zimbabweans who feel their democracy is being stolen amendment by amendment,” Mhute told this correspondent.
The Justice minister remained composed during the attack but later accused Kore of “grandstanding” and “insulting the decorum of this House.” Ziyambi defended CAB3 as necessary to align presidential terms with local government cycles and reduce election costs. However, a leaked cabinet memo, obtained by local media, reveals internal divisions, with some ZANU-PF officials warning that resetting term limits could trigger international isolation and renewed sanctions.
Geopolitical Stakes for Southern Africa
The battle over CAB3 is not being fought in a vacuum. Zimbabwe’s neighbors are watching closely. In a region already roiled by disputed elections in Kenya and Mozambique, a constitutional maneuver that extends presidential tenure feeds fears of democratic backsliding across Southern Africa.
Data from Afrobarometer, an independent survey group, shows that 67% of Zimbabweans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. Trust in parliament has dropped to 38%, while approval of the executive branch hovers at 34%. The CAB3 debate has only deepened public cynicism. Human rights groups have warned that the bill, if passed, could trigger a fresh wave of unrest similar to the 2018 and 2019 protests that were met with a heavy security crackdown.
Zimbabwe’s economic crisis adds another layer of volatility. Inflation is running at 55% annually, and the local currency has lost 80% of its value against the dollar since January. With unemployment estimated at over 40%, analysts warn that political instability over CAB3 could scare away the limited foreign investment the country has attracted under Mnangagwa’s “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” mantra.
What Comes Next
The bill now moves to the committee stage, where Kore and other opposition MPs have vowed to introduce hundreds of amendments to delay progress. The ZANU-PF majority, which holds 177 of the 210 elected seats, is expected to push CAB3 through within weeks. However, the bill also requires a referendum if it alters term limits, a point of legal dispute. Lawmakers loyal to Mnangagwa argue that the amendment only changes the length, not the number, of terms, thus avoiding a referendum. Constitutional experts disagree.
“This is a constitutional crisis in slow motion,” said Dr. Mhute. “When a government has to twist its own foundational law to keep a leader in office, the legitimacy of the entire state is at stake. Mai Kore’s shouting match in parliament is the polite part. The real explosion will come from the streets.”
As lawmakers filed out after Thursday’s session, a handful of protesters gathered outside Parliament building, waving placards reading “CAB3 = CAB-in (cabin) 3rd term” and “Mai Kore speak for us.” Police monitored the crowd but made no arrests. The scene captured the uneasy calm before what many fear will be a storm.
