News / Press Release
ZAPU not impressed by the Local Govt Laws Amendment Bill and the outreach program
11 Jun 2016 at 09:17hrs | Views
ZAPU notes that the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Rural and Urban Development will be conducting public hearings on the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill. The party commends this move as a right step in the right direction as we continue in the struggle to democratize Zimbabwe and involve citizens in formulating laws of the land.
The party however is concerned by the outreach schedule that has been issued out by the Portfolio Committee. We note with concern the exclusion of two whole provinces of Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South in the program. Only a single meeting in the whole Southern Region of Zimbabwe is scheduled for Nkulumane Hall in Bulawayo.
ZAPU points out that Nkulumane Hall is small and not centrally located and most people have to commute twice to reach the venue.
ZAPU does not understand why Matabeleland North and South are totally excluded from the process when all other Provinces in the country are covered. We view this as another display of arrogance by the Kasukuwere led Ministry and Parliament where marginalisation of the Southern Region of the country is celebrated and perpetuated instead of it being corrected.
It is taken as a sign that people of the Provinces of Matabeleland are lesser citizens and their views are not considered important and therefore should not contribute to the parliamentary processes of the nation.
Looking at the proposed amendment itself, ZAPU sadly notes that the bill seeks only to establish a tribunal to remove elected officials from office, even before enacting an act of Parliament that will ensure they exercise their duties in line with Chapter 14 of the National Constitution.
ZAPU feels this amendment is a ploy by ZANU to intimidate local authorities and officials as we approach the watershed 2018 elections. Kasukuwere is doing all he can to make the electoral ground uneven as we approach the next elections and the target is the local authorities, with the saga at Harare and Gweru townhouses clear examples and indications of the sinister motive of the Bill.
ZAPU urges the responsible Parliamentary Committee to revisit the Amendment Bill and ensure they empower local authorities by ensuring implementation of Chapter 14 of the Constitution first, before putiing in place punitive clauses that seek to victimise and intimidate elected officials at local authorities.
There are much bigger issues that should be addressed by implementing chapter 14 of the National Constitution and we urge Parliament to concentrate all efforts towards that than bringing a Bill that targets individuals.
When they finaly prepare the correct Amendment Bill, they should make sure all provinces' views are gathered, Matabeleland North and South included.
The party however is concerned by the outreach schedule that has been issued out by the Portfolio Committee. We note with concern the exclusion of two whole provinces of Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South in the program. Only a single meeting in the whole Southern Region of Zimbabwe is scheduled for Nkulumane Hall in Bulawayo.
ZAPU points out that Nkulumane Hall is small and not centrally located and most people have to commute twice to reach the venue.
ZAPU does not understand why Matabeleland North and South are totally excluded from the process when all other Provinces in the country are covered. We view this as another display of arrogance by the Kasukuwere led Ministry and Parliament where marginalisation of the Southern Region of the country is celebrated and perpetuated instead of it being corrected.
Looking at the proposed amendment itself, ZAPU sadly notes that the bill seeks only to establish a tribunal to remove elected officials from office, even before enacting an act of Parliament that will ensure they exercise their duties in line with Chapter 14 of the National Constitution.
ZAPU feels this amendment is a ploy by ZANU to intimidate local authorities and officials as we approach the watershed 2018 elections. Kasukuwere is doing all he can to make the electoral ground uneven as we approach the next elections and the target is the local authorities, with the saga at Harare and Gweru townhouses clear examples and indications of the sinister motive of the Bill.
ZAPU urges the responsible Parliamentary Committee to revisit the Amendment Bill and ensure they empower local authorities by ensuring implementation of Chapter 14 of the Constitution first, before putiing in place punitive clauses that seek to victimise and intimidate elected officials at local authorities.
There are much bigger issues that should be addressed by implementing chapter 14 of the National Constitution and we urge Parliament to concentrate all efforts towards that than bringing a Bill that targets individuals.
When they finaly prepare the correct Amendment Bill, they should make sure all provinces' views are gathered, Matabeleland North and South included.
Source - Iphithule Thembani Maphosa - Zapu
