Former opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has launched a fresh attack on Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 of 2026 (CAB3), describing it as a flawed and unnecessary exercise that diverts attention from Zimbabwe’s real national challenges.
By Advent Shoko
Speaking in response to questions from journalists following the Bill’s recent progress through Parliament, Chamisa said he remains firmly opposed to any further amendments to the Constitution, arguing that Zimbabwe should focus on rebuilding public trust, strengthening institutions and delivering electoral reforms instead.
The Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 of 2026 has already gone through its first and second readings in Parliament, with Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi presenting the proposed changes.
However, Chamisa believes the amendment process is fundamentally misguided.
“I don’t agree with the mutilation of a constitution,” Chamisa said.
“I’m a constitutionalist. I believe in constitutionalism. Any leader who doesn’t believe in constitutionalism is not worth their salt.”
He argued that constitutions exist to limit the excesses of political leaders and protect future generations from the dangers of unchecked power.
“Leaders are not angels, and that’s why we need documents and guardrails to govern their appetite, to govern their ambitions, to govern their whims and even caprices,” he said.
A Waste Of Time And Public Goodwill?
Chamisa went further, describing the proposed amendment as “ill-thought, misbegotten and misconceived.”
According to him, Zimbabwe’s leaders should be concentrating on solving pressing national problems rather than revisiting constitutional arrangements.
“Not only is it a waste of time, it’s also a waste of goodwill,” he said.
The former Citizens Coalition for Change leader argued that political leaders have a responsibility to govern with future generations in mind rather than focusing on extending their influence or tenure.
“When people give you an opportunity to provide direction to a nation, what we are doing must be for posterity and future generations,” Chamisa said.
He warned against leaders overstaying in positions of power.
“You must not overstay your welcome.“
South Africa Comparison Draws Criticism
One of the arguments advanced by supporters of the proposed constitutional changes is that similar arrangements exist in neighbouring South Africa, where certain parliamentary mechanisms differ from Zimbabwe’s current system.
Chamisa dismissed the comparison, saying Zimbabwe should not rush to copy systems that other countries are already questioning.
“They argue that South Africa next door has got the same system,” he said.
“South Africans are actually trying to run away from their system, and we are trying to then copy their system.”
He added that each country has unique political and historical circumstances that require tailor-made solutions rather than imported models.
“Every country has its own unique circumstance, and our circumstance doesn’t permit that we should waste our time trying to then borrow things.”
Focus Should Be On Fixing Institutions
Instead of constitutional amendments, Chamisa said Zimbabwe should prioritise repairing what he believes are the country’s weakened institutions.
“We fix what’s broken,” he said.
“What’s broken in this country are institutions.“
He argued that restoring confidence in public institutions should take precedence over constitutional changes.
According to Chamisa, many Zimbabweans have lost trust in institutions tasked with safeguarding democracy and protecting the will of the electorate.
“What’s broken in this country is trust, confidence in institutions that are supposed to be the custodians of the will of the people and the mandate of the people.”
He said rebuilding that confidence should become a national priority.
Calls For Electoral Reforms And Referendum
Chamisa also returned to a long-standing opposition demand for electoral reforms, saying disputed elections remain one of Zimbabwe’s biggest governance challenges.
“We must fix elections that are completely disputed,” he said.
He argued that any constitutional reforms should emerge from broad national consensus rather than unilateral political processes.
Those reforms, he said, must be agreed upon by all stakeholders and ultimately endorsed by citizens through a referendum.
“There must be a referendum to respect the people,” Chamisa said.
Growing Debate Over CAB3
Chamisa’s remarks add to an increasingly heated national debate surrounding Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3.
Supporters of the Bill argue that the proposed changes are necessary to improve governance and administrative efficiency. Critics, however, say constitutional amendments should only be pursued when there is broad public agreement and a clear national interest.
Chamisa, rather, prefers a transitional government to “stabilise the socio-political crisis” which he attributes to illegitimacy and maladministration. His former friends including Tendai Biti have also previously called for the same although critics argue that arrangement would raise the same constitutional issues raised by the Bill.
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