News / National
Zanu-PF's flooded Parliament with over 45,000 written submissions
2 hrs ago |
56 Views
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has publicly praised members of the ruling ZANU PF in Mashonaland West for spearheading a mass mobilisation campaign that generated more than 45,000 written submissions in support of the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3).
The remarks appear to confirm reports that party structures in the province played a central role in flooding Parliament with submissions backing the controversial constitutional changes.
CAB3 seeks to extend the terms of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Members of Parliament and local authority representatives by two years, effectively postponing the next harmonised elections from 2028 to 2030.
Speaking at a recent District Coordinating Committee (DCC) meeting in Mashonaland West, Ziyambi commended party members for what he described as an outstanding mobilisation effort during the parliamentary consultation process.
"In terms of consultations, Mashonaland West, you made us proud. You provided the highest number of written submissions that were received and your public hearings were very good," Ziyambi said to applause from party members.
"The mobilisation we did within our party structures was very excellent and we want to thank you, you made us proud. We felt like we were Mash-Best."
The comments come after reports earlier this year alleged that provincial party structures had coordinated efforts to secure thousands of written submissions supporting the proposed constitutional amendments.
According to those reports, provincial leaders, district structures, Members of Parliament, councillors and traditional leaders were encouraged to mobilise support for the Bill.
Ziyambi formally introduced CAB3 in the National Assembly this week, setting the stage for parliamentary debate on one of the most contentious legislative proposals in recent years.
Supporters of the Bill argue that extending the tenure of elected officials would provide continuity and stability, while critics contend that it would undermine constitutional principles and deny citizens the opportunity to elect their leaders at the prescribed time.
The consultation process has also attracted criticism from opponents of the proposed amendments.
A group of retired military officers and former senior civil servants campaigning against the Bill have alleged that some of the written submissions were obtained under questionable circumstances.
Speaking on behalf of the group at a press conference in Harare, retired Air Marshal Henry Muchena claimed to possess evidence suggesting that villagers were pressured into signing letters supporting the constitutional changes.
"We state without equivocation that the said process was choreographed, imposed upon the people, and its outcomes do not in any manner reflect the genuine will of the people of Zimbabwe," said Muchena.
"It has since come to light that the people were compelled to append their signatures to thousands of fraudulent letters of support for CAB3, while selective media coverage systematically excluded the overwhelming majority of opposing voices."
The allegations have not been independently verified.
The anti-CAB3 campaigners have also alleged that substantial financial resources have been earmarked to influence parliamentary support for the Bill, claims that have similarly not been substantiated through independent evidence.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have faced criticism from some quarters for what observers describe as a relatively subdued campaign against the proposed constitutional amendments, despite the potentially far-reaching implications of the legislation.
As debate on CAB3 gathers momentum in Parliament, the battle over public opinion and the legitimacy of the consultation process is expected to intensify, with both supporters and opponents seeking to shape the national conversation around one of Zimbabwe's most consequential constitutional proposals in recent years.
The remarks appear to confirm reports that party structures in the province played a central role in flooding Parliament with submissions backing the controversial constitutional changes.
CAB3 seeks to extend the terms of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Members of Parliament and local authority representatives by two years, effectively postponing the next harmonised elections from 2028 to 2030.
Speaking at a recent District Coordinating Committee (DCC) meeting in Mashonaland West, Ziyambi commended party members for what he described as an outstanding mobilisation effort during the parliamentary consultation process.
"In terms of consultations, Mashonaland West, you made us proud. You provided the highest number of written submissions that were received and your public hearings were very good," Ziyambi said to applause from party members.
"The mobilisation we did within our party structures was very excellent and we want to thank you, you made us proud. We felt like we were Mash-Best."
The comments come after reports earlier this year alleged that provincial party structures had coordinated efforts to secure thousands of written submissions supporting the proposed constitutional amendments.
According to those reports, provincial leaders, district structures, Members of Parliament, councillors and traditional leaders were encouraged to mobilise support for the Bill.
Ziyambi formally introduced CAB3 in the National Assembly this week, setting the stage for parliamentary debate on one of the most contentious legislative proposals in recent years.
Supporters of the Bill argue that extending the tenure of elected officials would provide continuity and stability, while critics contend that it would undermine constitutional principles and deny citizens the opportunity to elect their leaders at the prescribed time.
The consultation process has also attracted criticism from opponents of the proposed amendments.
A group of retired military officers and former senior civil servants campaigning against the Bill have alleged that some of the written submissions were obtained under questionable circumstances.
Speaking on behalf of the group at a press conference in Harare, retired Air Marshal Henry Muchena claimed to possess evidence suggesting that villagers were pressured into signing letters supporting the constitutional changes.
"We state without equivocation that the said process was choreographed, imposed upon the people, and its outcomes do not in any manner reflect the genuine will of the people of Zimbabwe," said Muchena.
"It has since come to light that the people were compelled to append their signatures to thousands of fraudulent letters of support for CAB3, while selective media coverage systematically excluded the overwhelming majority of opposing voices."
The allegations have not been independently verified.
The anti-CAB3 campaigners have also alleged that substantial financial resources have been earmarked to influence parliamentary support for the Bill, claims that have similarly not been substantiated through independent evidence.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have faced criticism from some quarters for what observers describe as a relatively subdued campaign against the proposed constitutional amendments, despite the potentially far-reaching implications of the legislation.
As debate on CAB3 gathers momentum in Parliament, the battle over public opinion and the legitimacy of the consultation process is expected to intensify, with both supporters and opponents seeking to shape the national conversation around one of Zimbabwe's most consequential constitutional proposals in recent years.
Source - Southern Eye
Join the discussion
Loading comments…
