Harare, (New Ziana)- The Zimbabwe Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill (CAB3) sailed through the National Assembly on Thursday by a decisive margin, with 216 legislators voting for its passage and 42 opposing.
With 194 seats, the ruling ZANU PF party already had more than the 187 votes required to pass the Bill but it managed to secure some from the opposition side.
Key provisions of the Bill include introducing abolishing the election of the President by public vote and replacing it with election by Parliament, extending the electoral cycle for President, Parliamentarians and councilors from five to seven years.
Following the vote, the National Assembly adjourned to July 7 while the Bill is now expected to move to the Senate where it should go through the same process.
In the Senate, ZANU-PF holds 33 of the 60 elected seats, the opposition Citizen Coalition for Change holds 27 while chiefs occupy 18 seats and representatives of people with disabilities two.
New Ziana
