Tensions Boil Over In Cabinet Over Constitutional Amendment Plans
Source: Tensions Boil Over In Cabinet Over Constitutional Amendment Plans ⋆ Pindula News Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga reportedly clashed with Attorney-General Virginia Mabhiza during a tense Cabinet meeting last Tuesday, as ministers debated the proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, 2026. ZimLive reported sources as saying Chiwenga angrily interrupted Mabhiza after she cited South Africa […]
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga reportedly clashed with Attorney-General Virginia Mabhiza during a tense Cabinet meeting last Tuesday, as ministers debated the proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, 2026.
ZimLive reported sources as saying Chiwenga angrily interrupted Mabhiza after she cited South Africa as an example while outlining the legal framework for the planned constitutional changes.
Chiwenga is said to have objected to the comparison, arguing that South Africa “is not independent” and should not be mentioned in the same breath as liberation movements that fought to free their countries.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa reportedly stepped in to admonish his deputy for both the interruption and the remarks.
However, Chiwenga insisted on completing his prepared comments, prompting a sharp exchange. At one point, Mnangagwa is said to have barked: “I’m the president!”
The draft Bill, which was presented by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, proposes significant changes to the Constitution.
Among the most contentious is a plan to amend Section 92 by replacing direct presidential elections with a system in which Members of Parliament would elect the head of state. The amendments would also extend Mnangagwa’s second and final term from 2028 to 2030.
Chiwenga and the recently retired Zimbabwe National Army commander, Anselem Sanyatwe, now serving as Sports Minister, were reportedly the only ministers who arrived with prepared notes and openly questioned key aspects of the proposals.
Sources suggest Chiwenga’s objections were driven largely by concerns that scrapping direct presidential elections could weaken the authority of the party leader and leave leadership contests vulnerable to manipulation by wealthy party figures.
Sanyatwe is said to have accused Ziyambi of stretching the amendments beyond the scope of a ZANU PF resolution that sought only to extend Mnangagwa’s term by two years.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe reportedly spoke first in support of the reforms. Other ministers backing the proposals included Energy Minister July Moyo, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo, Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe and ICT Minister Tatenda Matevera.
Matevera is said to have objected to plans to abolish the Zimbabwe Gender Commission.
Not all ministers who indicated they wished to contribute were given the floor. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube is said to have raised his hand several times without being recognised.
Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri reportedly pushed back against both Chiwenga and Sanyatwe, arguing that their later entry into the military did not grant them superior liberation credentials.
The Bill was formally gazetted on Monday, 16 February 2026, paving the way for it to be tabled in Parliament following last week’s Cabinet approval.
