MDC-T is trying to play to the gallery by insinuating
Government is not interested in free, fair and credible elections as espoused
by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, because the opposition is aware of ongoing
legislative processes dealing with the issue, a Cabinet minister has said.
This week, Parliament reconvenes to debate the Electoral
Amendment Bill. Parliament records show MDC-T has submitted proposed
amendments to the Bill, showing that the opposition is aware of what Government
is doing to deliver a legitimate poll.
Furthermore, the parties in Parliament — Zanu-PF, MDC-T and
MDC —have agreed to a Code of Conduct that could be incorporated into the Act.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail last week, Justice,
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said: “Some weeks
back, (MDC-T chief whip Innocent) Gonese even brought their suggested
amendments to Parliament and debated them.
“I am surprised that they are going all out to the Press to
cry foul. It is clear that they are grandstanding. But we will continue to
follow due processes and deliver a free and fair election in line with what
President Mnangagwa has constantly said.”
Minister Ziyambi said each of the so-called reforms spoken
of by MDC-T had been either been already addressed or were work in progress.
“I actually do not understand what they mean by electoral
reforms. It’s high-sounding language that they are using to gain attention,”
added the minister.
“I can categorically state that each and every issue that
they have raised has been already addressed under the law, or is in the process
of being addressed.
“There is also the Code of Conduct for elections which all
the parties have signed and agreed to. We have agreed that this Code of Conduct
be incorporated into the Electoral Act.
“What we are now working on is to focus on the penalties
for political parties do not abide by the Code of Conduct.”
Minister Ziyambi, who Leader of Government business in
Parliament said he had reconvened the legislature to debate electoral issues
even though it was supposed to be in recess this month.
The Justice Minister said he was prepared to invoke
Parliament’s Standing Rules and Orders to extend debate into the night if need
be.
“We want these amendments to be done so as to allow the
President to proclaim the dates for the elections.”
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Priscilla
Chigumba said Parliament was the right platform for parties to debate reforms.
“… this is work in progress and political parties should
lobby Parliament for the expeditious promulgation of these reforms.
“The responsibility to make laws lies squarely with
Parliament and some of the political parties agitating the reforms are
represented therein and therefore they are best disposed to bring the reforms
to fruition.”
MDC-T’s Mr Gonese confirmed his party was part of the
reform process.
The opposition has also been agitating for a Diaspora vote,
but the judiciary is seized with that matter and last month the Constitutional
Court reserved judgment on it.
Another “reform” demanded by MCC-T is media monitoring of
coverage of political parties and candidates, which according to law applies
three months before the polls.
Political analyst Mr Alban Gambe said of this: “We have
seen that ZBC has been giving coverage to opposition political parties, in
particular Nelson Chamisa and the MDCs, so it is clear that some of the
so-called reforms that are being called for no longer have merit.
“Also, allegations by the opposition that chiefs are
partisan do not hold merit because traditional leaders have a right to pursue
political persuasions of their choice.”
Opposition parties have demanded “de-militarisation of
Zec”, but the electoral body has repeatedly stated that it does not employ any
serving members of the military.
President Mnangagwa has reached out to all political
parties and wants to meet them to discuss election-related issues in another
show of his commitment to free, fair and credible polls. Sunday Mail
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