Zanu-PF MPs breaks ranks over passing of job cuts bill

A sizeable number of Zanu-PF legislators, mostly those in business, have openly expressed their displeasure over the proposed Labour Amendment Bill especially clauses that will result in retrospective application of the law, arguing that the provision would squeeze most companies out of business.

David Chapfika (Mutoko South MP) and John Holder (Zvishavane Ngezi MP) were among Zanu-PF legislators who raised concern over the contentious clause.
 
Chapfika said he was concerned over the National Assembly's move to override the adverse report presented by the Parliamentary Legal Committee (PLC), which pointed out that retrospective application of the law violated the Constitution.

"These experts (PLC) comprise of a fully constituted committee of Parliament chosen on the basis of their ability, knowledge and experience in the legal fraternity, and I was actually surprised that for the first time in history Nelson Chamisa (Kuwadzana East MP, MDC-T) has found it fit to support the ruling Zanu PF government, and he spoke eloquently in support; but I just wonder whether Chamisa would be very happy or would decry the collapse of industry," Chapfika said, after Chamisa had said Parliament had powers to pass a Bill that demanded retrospective application of the law.

"Do we know what weeks in respect of retrospective payment translates to? Definitely if there are more than four or 10 employees, some companies would collapse in the current environment. I do not think that anyone is against protecting the worker, but the constitutionality of the issue must also be observed."