GOVERNMENT will soon amend the Constitution to extend the
provision which reserves 60 seats for women following the pending expiry of the
subsistence of the 10-year legal framework in 2023, President Mnangagwa has
said.
Addressing a Zanu-PF Women’s League National Assembly
meeting in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa said he was in agreement with
a proposal from women to have the constitutional provision extended since
attainment of the 50:50 had not yet been realised.
He said making such amendments would not be a challenge
given that Zanu-PF commanded a two-third majority in Parliament.
“In my meeting earlier on with your leadership, they raised
a long standing grievance that of 50:50.
Men also said I should not forget that women came from a
man’s rib. I said it is true because that is contained in the Bible, but I said
women are 52 percent compared to man’s 48 percent but they are prepared for a
compromise of 50:50 percent,” said the President.
“In our constitution as well, we agreed that for 10 years,
women enjoy the women’s quota. We thought that in those 10 years we would have
achieved 50:50 but we did not, so their request is that the provision be
extended. Men have not opposed the proposal.
So we can amend the Constitution to accommodate the
concerns of women. As Zanu-PF we have two thirds majority (in Parliament) so it
should not be a problem.
But for the 50:50 principle to be implemented in the
private sector it is problematic because Government has no equity in those
firms. So we will commence a process to amend the Constitution.”
Turning to corruption, President Mnangagwa slammed the
previous Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission led by Mr Job Whabira for being
ineffective.
“The Commission that was there led by Whabira had no teeth.
If they detected corruption they would look up to other institutions to have
the culprit arrested. With respect to this one I gave it the necessary teeth.
The Commission we recently constituted, it has nine
commissioners headed by a woman. She is a no nonsense,” said President
Mnangagwa.
Responding to a request from the Women’s League to have
women candidates represent the party in the forthcoming by-elections, President
Mnangagwa said women had not been forthcoming in terms of expressing interest
in the said constituencies despite the fact that the constituencies fell vacant
following death of other women.
Vacant constituencies include Glen View South in Harare,
Lupane East in Matabeleland North province and Mangwe constituency in
Matabeleland South province.
Lupane East fell vacant early this year after the death of
Cde Sithembile Gumbo (Zanu-PF) while Glen View South was declared vacant when
Mrs Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java (MDC Alliance) passed on.
The President commended the Women’s League saying it was
the pillar of the revolutionary party.
President Mnangagwa said Government would increase the
number of buses in rural areas when he commissions other buses that were
imported recently.
Turning to the economy, President Mnangagwa said Government
remains committed to have it resuscitated.
“Our economy had fallen in a big way. For us to return to the global economy we are obliged to
make economic reforms and modernise our industry so that we become competitive.
If we want to be competitive in the world economy and even
in the regional economy we felt we have to liberalise our economy, and
rationalise indigenisation laws, have our own currency. Even small countries have their currencies.
The austerity measures that we are implementing are meant
to take us from a collapsed economy to a functioning economy, we need to have
safety nets to cushion our people because incomes had been eroded by the
austerity measures which we must walk through,” said the President.
He called for peace and unity among party members. “It is that philosophy of Zanu-PF that has made me to
create a political dialogue. We believe in it.
Not all political parties have come to the table of peace
but I am happy that Zanu-PF is at the table of peace,” the President said.
“However despite our doctrine of peace you will still see
individuals that are divisive in the party. We should be alert to such comrades in the party who are
divisive.
“We do not chuck them out but we must point out to them
that unity gives strength to the party.
Our revolutionary party is so strong that one individual
person should not ever think that without him the party will fall,” said
President Mnangagwa .
He said Government will support businesses that are aimed
at enhancing the lives of people.
“You must always think big, do not think small, plan big.
Nothing is impossible, my administration will support you,” the President said.
He said his engagement with development partners in various
countries had borne fruit despite criticism from some sections of the media.
Herald
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