NO MORE DIRECT VOTE: Minister Ziyambi Defends Plan for Parliament to Elect President

HARARE — In a major defense of the controversial Constitution Amendment (No. 3) Bill, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi says moving to a parliamentary-elected presidency will end the "toxic" cycles of post-election violence that have plagued Zimbabwe for decades. Speaking in an interview with ZTN Prime, Minister Ziyambi argued that the current direct election model allows "political opportunists" to claim victory without the backing of a parliamentary majority, leading to street protests and civil unrest.

The Minister noted that while constituency-based parliamentary elections are generally peaceful, the direct presidential vote has historically been the flashpoint for violence, most notably in 2008 and 2018.

“The system that we are introducing will reduce toxicity and ensure that opportunists do not wake up and say I have not lost a presidential election when, in essence, they do not even have members of parliament who would have voted for them,” Ziyambi said.

He cited the August 1, 2018, violence in Harare as a primary example. "ZANU PF had won handsomely [in Parliament], but somebody was saying they had won the presidential election... and they caused violence, and there was a loss of life and property." The Bill, which is currently undergoing public consultations, proposes several radical shifts to Zimbabwe's governance structure:

• Parliamentary Selection: The President would be elected by a joint sitting of Parliament (National Assembly and Senate) rather than a popular national vote.

• Seven-Year Terms: Presidential, parliamentary, and local authority terms would be extended from five to seven years.

• Voter Registration: Responsibility for the voters' roll would move from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) back to the Registrar General.

• Senate Expansion: The Senate would grow from 80 to 90 members, allowing the President to appoint 10 senators based on professional expertise.

  
  

Minister Ziyambi pointed to regional and international precedents to justify the move. Although Zimbabwe is not currently a member of the Commonwealth, he noted that in 37 of its 56 member states, the head of state is elected by Parliament or a similar legislative body.

He specifically highlighted South Africa and Botswana as successful examples of parliamentary-elected presidencies that enjoy greater political stability compared to nations with direct popular votes like Mozambique or Tanzania.

Opposition leaders and constitutional analysts have slammed the Bill as a "constitutional coup." Critics argue that extending the term limit and moving to an indirect election is a strategic move to ensure President Emmerson Mnangagwa remains in office until at least 2030, bypassing the 2028 limit set by the current 2013 Constitution.

"The Bill seeks to centralize power and insulate the President from public accountability," said constitutional lawyer Tinashé Hofisi.

As public hearings continue across the country, often marked by high tension and overcrowding, the debate over Amendment No. 3 is set to be the defining political battle of 2026.

Zimbabwe Constitution Amendment No 3 Bill 2026