News / National
Maridadi says new constitution has no provision of realigning of laws
23 Mar 2016 at 05:36hrs | Views
The member of the House of Assembly for Mabvuku-Tafara constituency James Maridadi has said the new constitution has no provision for realigning of laws as it clearly states that all laws that contravene the new supreme law are null and void.
Masvingo Mirror reported that Maridadi said this at the stakeholders meeting to discuss access to information for the public convened by the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe Chapter at a local hotel recently.
"The constitution does not talk about aligning of laws, if the law contravenes the new constitution it is null and void period, there is no need to realign it, a new law must be enacted," said the former popular disc jockey with then ZBC Radio 3.
Maridadi also advised the stakeholders that it is now much easier to petition Parliament for any new law that citizens may want enacted or changed as there is no need to go through the Speaker of Parliament as before.
"The new constitution allows you to come direct to Parliament with your petition and it can be acted upon quickly, you don't need to go through the Speaker," he said.
On the state of access to information for both parliamentarians and the public, Maridadi had no kind words for quasi Government institutions like Zesa, NSSA, ZBC, PSMAS and CSC for their lack of transparency in the way they run their affairs citing some recent forensic audits carried out recently on them.
"There is so much suspicion in parastatals as to why one needs information on them yet it is a right of the public to access such important information on their operations.
"As I speak only three MPs are in possession of the PSMAS forensic audit report yet this information should be public as it involves public funds.
The 2014 ZBC forensic audit report is not yet available to the public, but if you want to make yourself angry read the report. For the Nssa report you would think that you are reading a fictitious novel because what is contained in that report is just unbelievable," he said
Masvingo Mirror reported that Maridadi said this at the stakeholders meeting to discuss access to information for the public convened by the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe Chapter at a local hotel recently.
"The constitution does not talk about aligning of laws, if the law contravenes the new constitution it is null and void period, there is no need to realign it, a new law must be enacted," said the former popular disc jockey with then ZBC Radio 3.
Maridadi also advised the stakeholders that it is now much easier to petition Parliament for any new law that citizens may want enacted or changed as there is no need to go through the Speaker of Parliament as before.
On the state of access to information for both parliamentarians and the public, Maridadi had no kind words for quasi Government institutions like Zesa, NSSA, ZBC, PSMAS and CSC for their lack of transparency in the way they run their affairs citing some recent forensic audits carried out recently on them.
"There is so much suspicion in parastatals as to why one needs information on them yet it is a right of the public to access such important information on their operations.
"As I speak only three MPs are in possession of the PSMAS forensic audit report yet this information should be public as it involves public funds.
The 2014 ZBC forensic audit report is not yet available to the public, but if you want to make yourself angry read the report. For the Nssa report you would think that you are reading a fictitious novel because what is contained in that report is just unbelievable," he said
Source - Masvingo Mirror
