#CAB3 Debate: The President must continue, he is good like Mbappe

HON. P. ZHOU: Thank you Hon. Speaker for giving me this opportunity to debate on the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 of 2026. We prayed for this occasion, for this very day. I thank God for allowing us to reach this day and I am happy because I am one of the first Hon. Members to add my voice concerning the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 of 2026. I want to thank the Minister for Justice and Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Z. Ziyambi for giving us a profound speech, which he clearly explained to us. Before people went to public hearings, there was enough explanation and even the Chairperson of the Committee on Justice and Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Zvobgo, gave a very conclusive and informative report. I also thank the Committee of Justice and Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and all the committees that were involved during the public hearings and the compilation of the report. This clearly indicated that a thorough job was done because of the presentations, which were done by the Minister of Justice and the Chairperson of the Justice Committee. Let me also take this opportunity to thank all Zimbabweans who attended the public consultations and those who gave written submissions, who listened and gave their views on the Constitutional Amendment Number 3. On the report which was presented by the Justice and Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Justice Committee, Hon. Zvobgo, many people flooded different venues, gave their opinions and they were and not restricted. They were free to put their opinions on what they liked about the Bill and what they do not like about the Bill. Looking at the province where I come from, males who gave their views were 22 120 and women were 32 111. The total number of people who attended the hearings was 54 000. In this august House, I am representing the women. May you understand that 32 000 women clearly indicated they now understand their rights. They do not remain in the kitchen preparing meals but they know how developmental projects are being done. Hence, I am thanking all who helped women to know their rights and also have their voices be heard. They went and contributed very positively and accepted the Bill. Those who are accepting the Bill are women and if women say something is going to happen, it will happen. The father and the children will follow suit; hence I am saying congratulations to the women of Midlands and all women from other provinces. They did a very brilliant job. Those living with disabilities, 2 485 attended the consultations. They were not left behind. Some of them were assisted, some used cars to travel from different areas to the venues of public hearings. This clearly indicated what His Excellency said, leaving no one and no place behind and people really used their rights fully. Our elders said chati homu chareva and it clearly indicated that many voices must be listened to without looking at the status of the person. I am saying chati bwege chanzwika. These things were discussed in the rural areas and in the towns. We are here today as the Members of Parliament so that we can debate on what we heard from the report presented by the Chairperson of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Zvobgo. Our singer, Aleck Macheso said, zvido zvenyu kunyanya ndizvo zvaita kuti tive pano nhasi. Hence, we are here today to discuss the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 so that we can put our minds together and come up with a good solution. The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa said ‘the voice of the people is the voice of God’. What was said by the people is what was compiled in the report. Nothing was removed and nothing added. We want to listen to what people said. We are proposing something that is happening in so many countries. Among the Commonwealth countries, 36 out of 56 countries are already using this approach. They have more than five year terms and some have seven or more years. The Commonwealth countries, including the United States of America, the so-called beacon of democracy, is doing that and people believe that it is good. I am sure that we all believe that this is good. I am sure we all agree that the President’s term, Members of Parliament and Councillors should be extended to seven years from five years. We need to appreciate the good work that is being done by His Excellency and the Second Republic. So, why not allow Mbappe to continue striking? Let him continue striking as a striker so that he scores many goals even as we envision in 2030? It is not far. Can we stop Lionel Messi and substitute him while he is scoring? Let us continue in that trajectory. Let us work together as we build Zimbabwe. Let us forget about the pressure of elections, divisions and fights but let us work together.