NATIONAL Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader Lovemore
Madhuku has warned fellow opposition leaders against entrusting the ruling
Zanu-PF with the role of promoting constitutionalism.
Madhuku, who has often been described by critics as
pro-Zanu-PF, told NewsDay on Saturday that he was recently disappointed when
President Emmerson Mnangagwa disregarded contributions made by members of the
Political Actors' Dialogue regarding proposed amendments to the Constitutional
Bill Amendment No 2.
Madhuku, as chair of the Polad sub-committee on governance
and legislative agenda, said they submitted a number of key recommendations
which were largely ignored by the ruling party.
"As NCA we are still very much opposed to the Bill. As
a party we will continue to demonstrate to the voters that Zanu-PF is not a
party to entrust with the promotion of constitutionalism," Madhuku said.
"As Polad sub-committee chair on governance and legislative
agenda, I am heartbroken that the government has rejected our recommendations.
However, I accept that Polad can only recommend, leaving it to the government
to accept or reject. Polad has done its part."
Mnangagwa has proposed 27 amendments to the Constitution
adopted by a popular vote in 2013. Among the proposed amendments is the
scrapping of the contentious running mate clause to give the President sweeping
powers to appoint his deputiaes.
Rights groups view the proposed changes as meant to consolidate
the President's powers, whittling down powers of Parliament and other arms of
the State.
Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has already brought the
Bill before Parliament for the second reading after public hearings were
fast-tracked under cover of COVID-19 lockdown.
Madhuku said despite the frustrations, Polad would continue
engaging the ruling party on other reform agendas including electoral reforms.
"Polad is not just about the Constitutional Amendment
Bill," he said.
"Polad has lost on the Constitutional Amendment Bill
but we will continue fighting outside Polad.
"We will remain in Polad for other issues that our
sub-committee is working on such as electoral reforms. We hope to succeed in
those other areas. It will take time for Zanu-PF to appreciate the value of a
dialogue platform such as Polad." Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment