Zanu PF to punish CAA3 dissidents

Zanu PF is planning disciplinary action against Members of Parliament who failed to attend crucial parliamentary sittings during the consideration of Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, in a move that could intensify pressure on lawmakers who defied party expectations.

The party's legal secretary, Ziyambi Ziyambi, announced the planned action at Zanu PF's annual conference in Chinhoyi on Saturday, saying MPs who absconded during the Bill's consideration would face sanctions.

"The party has resolved to invoke disciplinary measures against Zanu PF members of Parliament who absconded from Parliament and failed to vote on the crucial Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill," Ziyambi said.

Among the prominent lawmakers who did not vote were Skills Audit Minister Jenfan Muswere, Information Communication Technology Minister Tatenda Mavetera, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Marian Chombo, Deputy Primary and Secondary Education Minister Angeline Gata, and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Sheillah Chikomo. The reasons for their absence were not immediately clear.

The planned disciplinary measures come as the ruling party advances internal resolutions concerning its leadership and electoral timetable. The conference resolved to postpone the next elective congress from 2027 to 2029, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa expected to remain party leader and first secretary until 2030.

Provincial chairpersons defended the resolutions, saying they reflected consultations with party structures and grassroots members.

Harare provincial chairman Goodwills Masimirembwa said the resolutions followed district coordinating committee meetings and a provincial inter-district conference.

He said leadership succession and aligning the party constitution with the national Constitution were among the key issues raised during the consultations.

"These resolutions are here, and the main one concerns leadership. President Mnangagwa must remain strong at the helm of the party," Masimirembwa said.

He also praised Mnangagwa's leadership, claiming that his administration had improved the country's economic circumstances.

Mashonaland Central provincial chairman Kazembe Kazembe said his province had conducted consultations before submitting its resolutions to the conference.

He said district coordinating committee chairpersons had been tasked with gathering members' views ahead of an inter-district meeting held on September 6, which he said was attended by more than 3 000 people.

According to Kazembe, the resolutions reflected members' support for the party's current direction and what he described as greater internal order since 2017.

Bulawayo provincial chairman Jabulani Sibanda said the party's priorities included safeguarding Zimbabwe's independence and reducing reliance on foreign assistance, technology, machinery and industrial inputs.

He called for greater domestic capacity in areas such as medicine, technology and industrial production, saying the country should work towards greater self-sufficiency.

The conference resolutions highlight Zanu PF's efforts to consolidate its leadership arrangements while pursuing constitutional changes. The proposed disciplinary action against MPs who missed the parliamentary sittings also signals the party's intention to enforce compliance with its position on the controversial Bill.