Government expands debate on Constitutional Amendment Bill

By Andile Vundla

The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services is widening public engagement on the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) through an academic lecture to be held at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo this Friday.

Speaking to SkyzMetro FM , Political Science Scholar and Pan Africanist, Richard Mahomva, who will also be the speaker for the sesssion, said that the initiative is aimed at broadening participation in the national conversation, which has largely been limited to political and legal circles.

Mahomva stated that the lecture is part of a wider academic series designed to promote informed, research-based contributions to policy debates.

“The conversation around Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 has primarily been confined to politicians and lawyers. What the Ministry has done is to broaden that discussion and anchor it on academic engagement,” he said.

He added that the approach is intended to encourage evidence-based discussion on governance issues, including the potential impact of the proposed amendment on Zimbabwe’s democratic processes.

“This academic lecture series is a product of the Ministry, a platform that champions academic freedom beyond the constitutional obligation to merely inform,” he said.

Mahomva stated that the lecture is part of a wider academic series designed to promote informed, research-based contributions to policy debates.

“We believe these conversations will be informed by strong academic opinion, helping to deepen understanding of electoral democracy in a post-amendment context,” Mahomva said.

The Ministry also expects the initiative to increase participation by young people and other stakeholders who are often underrepresented in policy discussions.

“We anticipate greater involvement of young people so they can understand the significance of this potential policy change and become active participants in national processes,” he added.

The lecture also comes as Zimbabwe gears up to celebrate 46 years of independence, with the Ministry positioning a series of public lectures as part of broader efforts to enhance public engagement on national development issues.