HARARE, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean cabinet on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment bill that seeks to extend the current five-year terms of the office of the Zimbabwean president and parliament to seven years.
Addressing a post-cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere said the Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill of 2026 proposes a series of legal reforms to strengthen constitutional governance, clarify institutional roles, promote social, economic and political stability and enhance the efficiency of the state architecture.
"The objective of this reform is to reduce election-related disruptions, enhance policy continuity, allow sufficient time for the implementation of long-term national projects and promote political and economic stability," Muswere said.
He said the bill forms part of Zimbabwe's continuing legal evolution and seeks to adhere to the spirit of the constitution, refine and modernize certain provisions in response to governance experience, developmental imperatives and comparative constitutional practice.
The minister added that the primary objectives of the bill are to enhance political stability and policy continuity to allow national development programs to be implemented to completion, clarify institutional mandates and eliminate functional overlaps that undermine efficiency and accountability.
The bill also seeks to strengthen democratic structures through rationalization of the electoral and oversight institutions, and to align Zimbabwe's constitutional framework with contemporary African constitutional models that have demonstrated resilience, legitimacy and effectiveness.
It also seeks to promote long-term national stability, inclusivity and public confidence in constitutional institutions, he added.
Speaking at the same post-cabinet media briefing, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said following its presentation to cabinet on Tuesday, the bill will now be sent to the speaker of parliament, who will then take it for gazetting.
"Once the bill is gazetted, we will wait for 90 days. During the 90-day period, parliament will call for public consultations, and once all that is done, the relevant parliamentary committees will compile their reports, and then the bill will be introduced in parliament for formal debate," Ziyambi added. ■