News / National
Mugabe to rule by decree
30 Jun 2013 at 07:16hrs | Views
ZIMBABWE will be run under Presidential decree from today until after the harmonised elections following the automatic dissolution of Parliament last night. The new dispensation means the President is now the sole authority mandated to make laws if the need arises.
In an interview yesterday, Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the Presidential decree would last until the swearing in of the successful candidate in the presidential poll.
Chinamasa said it was important for the country to hold elections early to ensure the three arms of the State function simultaneously.
Any further poll delays will not be healthy for a democratic society, he added.
"The life of Parliament will be terminated by operation of the law. It means that there is no authority with power to make legislation except the President," he said.
"This will be the situation obtaining until the next President is sworn in."
Minister Chinamasa said this year marked the first time since 1980 that Zimbabwe would operate under decree without going to elections soon after the dissolution of Parliament.
"In the history of Zimbabwe, we have never had a vacuum that has been so long between the dissolution of Parliament and the swearing in of the President.
"Normally Parliament is dissolved at midnight before elections. Of the three arms of the State which are the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary, there are now going to be just two which will function.
"Even so, the Executive will be left legally limping because it needs the Legislature for it to be fully functional. This is why any further postponement of elections is unthinkable and not healthy for a democratic society."
Constitutional law expert Professor Lovemore Madhuku said proponents of early elections have been vindicated.
"If there is an urgent law to be passed, the President has to invoke Presidential powers until we have a new Parliament.
"This is the more reason why we have been saying elections must be held as soon as possible."
The life of the Seventh Parliament of Zimbabwe expired at midnight after the Legislature ran its five-year tenure. In terms of the law, the country should hold elections after every five years.
In an interview yesterday, Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the Presidential decree would last until the swearing in of the successful candidate in the presidential poll.
Chinamasa said it was important for the country to hold elections early to ensure the three arms of the State function simultaneously.
Any further poll delays will not be healthy for a democratic society, he added.
"The life of Parliament will be terminated by operation of the law. It means that there is no authority with power to make legislation except the President," he said.
"This will be the situation obtaining until the next President is sworn in."
Minister Chinamasa said this year marked the first time since 1980 that Zimbabwe would operate under decree without going to elections soon after the dissolution of Parliament.
"Normally Parliament is dissolved at midnight before elections. Of the three arms of the State which are the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary, there are now going to be just two which will function.
"Even so, the Executive will be left legally limping because it needs the Legislature for it to be fully functional. This is why any further postponement of elections is unthinkable and not healthy for a democratic society."
Constitutional law expert Professor Lovemore Madhuku said proponents of early elections have been vindicated.
"If there is an urgent law to be passed, the President has to invoke Presidential powers until we have a new Parliament.
"This is the more reason why we have been saying elections must be held as soon as possible."
The life of the Seventh Parliament of Zimbabwe expired at midnight after the Legislature ran its five-year tenure. In terms of the law, the country should hold elections after every five years.
Source - sundaynews
