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Mutare resident questions Ziyambi, Mnangagwa's legal qualifications over constitutional amendment
2 hrs ago |
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Mutare resident Kennedy Kaitano has questioned the legal credentials of Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and President Emmerson Mnangagwa over their handling of Constitutional Amendment No. 3, which seeks to extend presidential terms without a referendum.
In a strongly worded statement, Kaitano said he had "sleepless nights" trying to understand how senior legal minds such as Ziyambi, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda and President Mnangagwa could "fail to understand clauses of the Constitution written in such simple English that even a not‑so‑intelligent Grade Seven pupil will understand".
"I have wasted my nights, because I have come to grips with the fact that these educated lawyers know very well what is supposed to be done, but they somehow think they can pull the wool over our eyes and get the world to accept human stool for cake," he said.
Kaitano accused the authorities of attempting to use "brutal force" to push through amendments that undermine democracy, warning that history would judge them harshly.
He argued that Section 328 of the Constitution clearly defines a "term‑limit provision" as any clause limiting the length of time a person may hold public office. He said the Constitution explicitly states that any amendment extending such a term requires a national referendum.
Kaitano noted that Section 95 of the Constitution sets the presidential term at five years, coterminous with Parliament. Extending it to seven years, he said, constitutes an extension of time in office and therefore triggers the mandatory referendum requirement.
He urged Ziyambi, Mudenda, President Mnangagwa and Professor Jonathan Moyo to "revisit their introductory lectures in law school" and return with a correct interpretation of the Constitution.
"To err is human, and mistakes, once identified, should always be corrected," he said.
Kaitano warned Zimbabweans not to be deceived into accepting "human stool for cake", insisting that citizens must defend the Constitution from manipulation.
In a strongly worded statement, Kaitano said he had "sleepless nights" trying to understand how senior legal minds such as Ziyambi, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda and President Mnangagwa could "fail to understand clauses of the Constitution written in such simple English that even a not‑so‑intelligent Grade Seven pupil will understand".
"I have wasted my nights, because I have come to grips with the fact that these educated lawyers know very well what is supposed to be done, but they somehow think they can pull the wool over our eyes and get the world to accept human stool for cake," he said.
Kaitano accused the authorities of attempting to use "brutal force" to push through amendments that undermine democracy, warning that history would judge them harshly.
He argued that Section 328 of the Constitution clearly defines a "term‑limit provision" as any clause limiting the length of time a person may hold public office. He said the Constitution explicitly states that any amendment extending such a term requires a national referendum.
Kaitano noted that Section 95 of the Constitution sets the presidential term at five years, coterminous with Parliament. Extending it to seven years, he said, constitutes an extension of time in office and therefore triggers the mandatory referendum requirement.
He urged Ziyambi, Mudenda, President Mnangagwa and Professor Jonathan Moyo to "revisit their introductory lectures in law school" and return with a correct interpretation of the Constitution.
"To err is human, and mistakes, once identified, should always be corrected," he said.
Kaitano warned Zimbabweans not to be deceived into accepting "human stool for cake", insisting that citizens must defend the Constitution from manipulation.
Source - Byo24News
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