By CSJF reporter
Several people in Chipinge and Chimanimani welcomed Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 during public hearings, arguing that it should must through because it benefits all citizens. Participants said the Bill’s clauses would address grey areas in Zimbabwe’s constitution. They said giving the Registrar General the mandate to be custodian of the voter roll would help bring order and transparency to the electoral process.
Evelyn Sithole of Gumira Ward 22 in Chipinge said:“We have problems with the voters’ roll during election time. Our names were often missing or misplaced, mainly due to the delimitation process, and we walked long distances to cast our votes. We welcome that the Registrar General will now handle the voters’ roll, and we hope all anomalies will be corrected.”
Mr. Kudakwashe Bhasikiti from Chimanimani village added that the Bill would benefit citizens across the political divide. He noted that merging the Gender Commission and the Human Rights Commission would save taxpayers’ money by avoiding duplication of roles. “The new Bill is good for all of us and should sail through. Having longer terms for those elected into office will foster sustainable development. The merger of the two commissions is also positive, as it will reduce duplication and allow funds to be redirected to other government sectors,” he said. Other participants stressed that extending the terms of the President, parliamentarians, and councillors to seven years would promote long‑term development. They argued that many projects stall midway because leaders are constantly in “election mode.”
Longer presidential terms, they added, could help reduce political polarization and allow leaders to focus more on unity and development. The Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 public hearings will conclude tomorrow in Manicaland, with consultations scheduled to take place in Murambinda at the Better Schools Programme in Zimbabwe Hall.
