g Zanu PF to undermine the SADC initiated talks between the ruling party and the opposition.
Speaking during a public meeting on Thursday organised by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), National Constitutional Assembly chairman Lovemore Madhuku, said Zimbabweans should reject the amendments as they are not people-driven.
“The amendments display unacceptable government arrogance. How can we have a Constitution being changed at the whims of the ruling party? Lets call for a loud rejection of these amendments. We know that it is going to sail through Parliament but it will remain rejected,” said Madhuku.
The proposed amendments seeks to, among other things, change the President’s term of office and the method of electing a new President in the event of a President’s death or resignation.
“In the past Zimbabwean used to vote directly for the president and that was at a time the idea of Robert Mugabe’s dying was very remote. If Mugabe was to die today and elections were to be held within 90 days as prescribed in the current Constitution, Zanu PF will not win,” added Madhuku.
Mugabe, whose term ends in 2008, had initially proposed that elections be held in 2010, which would have given him two more years in office without having to face the electorate. The plan was however rejected by his own ruling ZANU PF party.
Deputy secretary of the Law Society of Zimbabwe, Lawrence Chibwe said the amendments will not help in addressing the current shortages faced by the people of Zimbabwe.
“This is general impunity by the government of the day. These proposed amendments will not bring food and jobs to the country neither do they intend to correct the poverty and squalor created by Operation Murambatsvina,” said Chibwe.
Political commentator Takura Zhangazha described the amendments as Zanu PF’s strategy to manage their succession battle.
“The Zanu PF people are in it for the long haul and they will make sure they remain in power. This a basically a proposal by Zanu PF to reconfigure the State. These amendments are a political reality and it is upon all opposition forces to challenge it,” said Zhangazha.
The Bill recommends five changes to the current constitution, including the shortening of the term of office of the President to five years from six, so that it runs concurrently with that of parliamentarians.
The Bill also allows for expansion of the Houses of Senate and Assembly from 66 to 84 and 150 to 200 respectively. Presidential appointees, consequently, increase from 16 to 34.
The amendment shall also provide for the creation of a statutory human rights commission to monitor human rights in the crisis-hit southern African country.
The opposition MDC has particularly opposed plans by the government to want use its parliamentary majority to make unilateral changes to the Constitution- CAJ News.
Post published in: News