Home

Blog

Bio

Byo South Develop.

Photos

Reports

Archives

Links

Subscribe

Contact

SW Radio Africa
By Violet Gonda

Despite serious objections from the MDC, ZANU PF steamrollered another repressive bill through its first two readings in parliament. The Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill has been described as the greatest challenge yet to Zimbabweans’ liberties. The two sides locked horns in parliament this week in a debate on the bill that passed the committee stage on Thursday. The proposed bill seeks to reintroduce a Senate and prevent legal challenges to land acquisition by the government. The bill would also give government the powers to take passports from individuals deemed to be engaging in activities that jeopardise national interest.

MDC Legal Secretary David Coltart said the third and final debate is going to be on Tuesday where all ZANU PF MPs are expected in parliament. He said the ruling party will need a 100 person affirmative vote to pass this draconian bill.

The key issues at stake:

The MDC is opposed to the idea of a Senate arguing that all the 66 senators should be duly elected on the basis of proportional representation to ensure that all sectors of society are adequately represented. This draft would give the President the right to appoint 6 senators would seriously compromise the democratic process.

The other area of concern is that the Minister can decide to take any lands he wants and remove the right to challenge the acquisition of land in the courts. If passed into law, the legislation will effectively take away the powers of the courts to decide on the fairness to acquisition of property and this provision can be used on any race or tribe. David Coltart said, “The ZANU PF amendments combine to form the greatest assaults on our human rights since independence in 1980.”

Peta Thornycroft, Harare

Zmbabwe civil rights advocates blasted the government’s proposed constitutional amendments that would, among other things, curtail the right of people to travel within the country and abroad. The government says the limit on travel is in public interest.
President Robert Mugabe’s government says the constitutional amendment to restrict peoples’ movements is a measure needed to combat international terrorism and protect the country’s national interests.
But to human rights organizations, which have submitted their comments on the proposals, the measure violates a basic human right guaranteed in the 1980 constitution. They say there is no definition of “national interest” in the government proposal, and that there are many effective antiterrorism laws already in place.
In addition to restricting travel, the government’s proposed constitutional amendments also include changes that would affect property rights and, in effect, create a second legislature made up of appointed, not elected members.
According to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the restriction on travel could be used against political opponents or activists to prevent them from speaking out against President Mugabe’s policies at international forums.
David Coltart, legal secretary for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, called the proposed travel restrictions a “grave and sinister assault” on another fundamental human right. He said it was intended to prevent people from leaving the country to tell the world what was going on in Zimbabwe.
Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa, who drafted the constitutional amendments, has said he will not comment until he presents the legislation to parliament next week.
The constitutional changes can be adopted by a two-third majority in the legislature. Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu PF, which won a majority of the seats in the last parliamentary election, can muster the two-third majority with the help of the 30 legislators appointed by Mr. Mugabe.
Parliamentary rules have been changed to speed up the adoption of new laws. Political observers say the constitutional amendments could be enacted within days under the new fast-track procedure

By Peta Thornycroft

Harare - Zmbabwe civil rights advocates blasted the government’s proposed constitutional amendments that would, among other things, curtail the right of people to travel within the country and abroad. The government says the limit on travel is in public interest.
President Robert Mugabe’s government says the constitutional amendment to restrict peoples’ movements is a measure needed to combat international terrorism and protect the country’s national interests.
But to human rights organizations, which have submitted their comments on the proposals, the measure violates a basic human right guaranteed in the 1980 constitution. They say there is no definition of “national interest” in the government proposal, and that there are many effective antiterrorism laws already in place.
In addition to restricting travel, the government’s proposed constitutional amendments also include changes that would affect property rights and, in effect, create a second legislature made up of appointed, not elected members.
According to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the restriction on travel could be used against political opponents or activists to prevent them from speaking out against President Mugabe’s policies at international forums.
David Coltart, legal secretary for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, called the proposed travel restrictions a “grave and sinister assault” on another fundamental human right. He said it was intended to prevent people from leaving the country to tell the world what was going on in Zimbabwe.
Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa, who drafted the constitutional amendments, has said he will not comment until he presents the legislation to parliament next week.
The constitutional changes can be adopted by a two-third majority in the legislature. Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu PF, which won a majority of the seats in the last parliamentary election, can muster the two-third majority with the help of the 30 legislators appointed by Mr. Mugabe.
Parliamentary rules have been changed to speed up the adoption of new laws. Political observers say the constitutional amendments could be enacted within days under the new fast-track procedure