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Chamisa ally says presidential election method not the core issue
29 Apr 2026 at 06:06hrs |
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Zimbabwean academic Nkululeko Sibanda has weighed into the ongoing debate over proposed constitutional changes, arguing that the method used to elect a President is not the central issue at stake.
Sibanda, a former spokesperson for opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, said concerns that electing a President through Parliament would undermine democratic rights are misplaced.
He explained that whether a President is elected directly by voters or indirectly through elected representatives is simply a matter of electoral system design, not a violation of universal suffrage.
"It does not really matter whether a President is elected directly by voters or by the people's representatives in Parliament," Sibanda said.
He argued that electing a President through Parliament does not disenfranchise citizens or erode the "one man, one vote" principle, as voters would still exercise their rights by electing legislators who in turn choose the Head of State.
According to Sibanda, claims that such a system removes voting rights reflect a misunderstanding of democratic frameworks.
However, he cautioned that the real concern lies elsewhere, particularly in the political motivations behind the proposed constitutional amendments.
Sibanda said the changes appear to be driven by internal dynamics within the ruling ZANU PF, rather than broader national interests.
"The real problem… is that they seek to resolve ZANU PF internal succession politics using national institutions," he said.
He warned that this approach risks drawing the entire country into what he described as a volatile internal power struggle within the ruling party.
Despite his concerns, Sibanda noted that there could still be "a silver lining" in the ongoing debate, suggesting that the national conversation around constitutional reform may yet yield positive outcomes if handled constructively.
The remarks add to a growing national discourse on the proposed constitutional amendments, which have sparked debate across political, legal and academic circles in Zimbabwe.
Sibanda, a former spokesperson for opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, said concerns that electing a President through Parliament would undermine democratic rights are misplaced.
He explained that whether a President is elected directly by voters or indirectly through elected representatives is simply a matter of electoral system design, not a violation of universal suffrage.
Dr Nkululeko Sibanda, former opposition CCC leader Nelson Chamisa's spokesperson says it does not really matter whether a President is elected directly by voters or by the people’s representatives in parliament. He is worried about the process! pic.twitter.com/bFmfFXCBes
— Bulawayo24 News (@Bulawayo24News) April 29, 2026
"It does not really matter whether a President is elected directly by voters or by the people's representatives in Parliament," Sibanda said.
He argued that electing a President through Parliament does not disenfranchise citizens or erode the "one man, one vote" principle, as voters would still exercise their rights by electing legislators who in turn choose the Head of State.
According to Sibanda, claims that such a system removes voting rights reflect a misunderstanding of democratic frameworks.
Sibanda said the changes appear to be driven by internal dynamics within the ruling ZANU PF, rather than broader national interests.
"The real problem… is that they seek to resolve ZANU PF internal succession politics using national institutions," he said.
He warned that this approach risks drawing the entire country into what he described as a volatile internal power struggle within the ruling party.
Despite his concerns, Sibanda noted that there could still be "a silver lining" in the ongoing debate, suggesting that the national conversation around constitutional reform may yet yield positive outcomes if handled constructively.
The remarks add to a growing national discourse on the proposed constitutional amendments, which have sparked debate across political, legal and academic circles in Zimbabwe.
Source - Byo24News
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