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Bribes rock Mnangagwa term extension plot
2 hrs ago |
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Fresh allegations have emerged claiming that large sums of money are being offered to influence voting in the Senate on the controversial Constitution Amendment No. 3 Bill (CAB3), which proposes wide-ranging changes to Zimbabwe's constitutional framework.
According to unnamed sources, some Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators were allegedly paid up to US$10 000 each this week to support provisions in the Bill, including proposals linked to the extension of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's tenure and changes to the presidential electoral system.
The allegations come as Parliament continues debating the Bill, which has already sparked intense political division and public scrutiny.
Among its key proposals are reported changes that would extend the presidential term by two years and remove the system of direct presidential elections.
While the Bill is expected to pass in the National Assembly, where Zanu PF holds a strong majority, attention has now shifted to the Senate, where the ruling party reportedly does not have a full margin of comfort.
Earlier claims of vote-buying were also made by former military and civil service figures, who alleged that legislators could receive payments of up to US$50 000 from unnamed business interests.
Sources further alleged that the latest payments were channelled through intermediaries linked to a faction within the CCC associated with interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu.
Some legislators aligned to this group have reportedly taken positions in support of the Bill, despite broader party opposition.
During National Assembly debates, Budiriro North MP Susan Matsunga drew attention after publicly supporting the Bill and praising President Emmerson Mnangagwa's infrastructure projects, including the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport expansion and the Trabablas Interchange.
Her remarks were viewed by critics within opposition ranks as a departure from the party's stated position on the constitutional amendments.
However, spokesperson for Tshabangu's camp, Nqobizitha Mlilo, dismissed the allegations of vote-buying as unfounded and politically motivated.
"To reduce the high-stakes theatre of constitutional negotiation to a petty transactional smear is an indictment of our public discourse," he said.
Mlilo said the faction was engaged in negotiations aimed at securing substantive political reforms rather than offering unconditional support for the Bill.
"We are not voting cows," he said, adding that the group would only support changes in exchange for "genuine, sincere and meaningful concessions in the national interest."
He also criticised the current form of the Bill, describing it as "unworkable" and warning against what he termed the "blind implementation" of ruling party resolutions through Parliament.
As debate continues, the constitutional amendment process has become a focal point of political tension, with competing narratives emerging over the motivations and conduct of legislators on both sides of the aisle.
According to unnamed sources, some Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators were allegedly paid up to US$10 000 each this week to support provisions in the Bill, including proposals linked to the extension of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's tenure and changes to the presidential electoral system.
The allegations come as Parliament continues debating the Bill, which has already sparked intense political division and public scrutiny.
Among its key proposals are reported changes that would extend the presidential term by two years and remove the system of direct presidential elections.
While the Bill is expected to pass in the National Assembly, where Zanu PF holds a strong majority, attention has now shifted to the Senate, where the ruling party reportedly does not have a full margin of comfort.
Earlier claims of vote-buying were also made by former military and civil service figures, who alleged that legislators could receive payments of up to US$50 000 from unnamed business interests.
Sources further alleged that the latest payments were channelled through intermediaries linked to a faction within the CCC associated with interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu.
Some legislators aligned to this group have reportedly taken positions in support of the Bill, despite broader party opposition.
During National Assembly debates, Budiriro North MP Susan Matsunga drew attention after publicly supporting the Bill and praising President Emmerson Mnangagwa's infrastructure projects, including the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport expansion and the Trabablas Interchange.
Her remarks were viewed by critics within opposition ranks as a departure from the party's stated position on the constitutional amendments.
However, spokesperson for Tshabangu's camp, Nqobizitha Mlilo, dismissed the allegations of vote-buying as unfounded and politically motivated.
"To reduce the high-stakes theatre of constitutional negotiation to a petty transactional smear is an indictment of our public discourse," he said.
Mlilo said the faction was engaged in negotiations aimed at securing substantive political reforms rather than offering unconditional support for the Bill.
"We are not voting cows," he said, adding that the group would only support changes in exchange for "genuine, sincere and meaningful concessions in the national interest."
He also criticised the current form of the Bill, describing it as "unworkable" and warning against what he termed the "blind implementation" of ruling party resolutions through Parliament.
As debate continues, the constitutional amendment process has become a focal point of political tension, with competing narratives emerging over the motivations and conduct of legislators on both sides of the aisle.
Source - newsday
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