Financial Gazette
THE ruling ZANU PF, which is four seats shy of the two-thirds majority needed to effect constitutional reforms, is considering plans to split Parliament into two legislative chambers and increase the number of elected legislators to 150.
Highly places sources told The Financial Gazette this week that ZANU PF stalwarts executing the task were confident of capitalising on the well of disenchantment within the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to secure endorsements from at least four opposition party legislators.
They said the ruling party, under whose stewardship the once-robust economy has collapsed into a recessionary heap, is tinkering with a proposal to introduce a bicameral parliament that would have 150 elected legislators, up from the current 120, and 60 members of the senate.
A bicameral parliamentary system provides for two parliamentary chambers. Although it prevents the enactment of ill-considered laws by providing checks and balances, critics argue that it makes political reforms more difficult to achieve and increases the risk of deadlock, particularly in cases where both chambers have similar powers.
Fifty seats would be reserved for women to be brought to parliament through proportional representation from all the country’s 10 political provinces.
Of the proposed 60 senators, 40 would also be brought to the House through proportional representation per province. President Robert Mugabe would have the prerogative to appoint 10 governors and 10 traditional chiefs for the senate, bringing the total number of senators to 60.
The same sources said a draft of the proposals had been passed to the executive for perusal and would, in the next two weeks, be presented to Parliament.
“There are only two people with the draft, but the ruling ZANU PF party will need the support of the MDC in parliament to effect the constitutional changes,” said a source privy to the proposed changes.
The ruling party needs a two-thirds majority in parliament to further alter the constitution, a practice the ruling party used to carry out without any difficulty before 2000, when the MDC almost stole victory in the parliamentary polls.
Patrick Chinamasa, leader of the House and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, was not available for comment.
However, MDC officials and some parliamentarians who spoke to this newspaper this week said they were aware of the proposed overhaul of parliament, but said nothing official had been communicated to the main opposition.
David Coltart, the MDC’s secretary for legal affairs, said his party had heard of the proposed Bill through unofficial sources. Coltart said the party welcomed the empowerment of women through the proposed 50 special seats but was not impressed by attempts at piecemeal constitutional reform by the ruling party.
“We have heard of the proposals but our position is that they are not acceptable as they are piecemeal,” said Coltart. “Our position remains unchanged as we believe the country needs a comprehensive constitutional reform, which must be done in conjunction with all stakeholders, including the civic society. If we (parliamentarians) are to overhaul parliament without amending the constitution and consulting all the stakeholders, the constitutional amendments will not enjoy the support of the people,” said Coltart, who is the MDC legislator for Bulawayo South.
The sources said the proposed introduction of a bicameral parliament in Zimbabwe tallied with the findings of both the government-appointed Constitutional Commission headed by Godfrey Chidyausiku and the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) led by University of Zimbabwe constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhuku.
The drafts produced by both bodies advocated for the establishment of a bicameral parliament but differed on the election process of members.
Coltart added: “As the MDC, we want and we are for constitutional reform but this process has to be an all-embracing affair. The issues of the Presidency, the devolution of power to the provinces and other issues that we have mentioned before need to be tackled as well if we are to entertain any ideas of constitutional reform. I repeat, the proposals being suggested are not acceptable and cannot enjoy the support of the MDC in parliament.”
Madhuku, whose NCA has, for the past four years, been lobbying for constitutional reform, said the proposals were worthless as long as they were not people-driven.
“The proposed constitutional reforms have no value as long as they come from ZANU PF alone. The proposals should come from the hearts of the people of Zimbabwe and not one party. It is the process of bringing them (constitutional changes) about that matters. We, as Zimbabweans, want a real and comprehensive constitutional reform. This is unacceptable,” said Madhuku.
Madhuku added that he doubted the MDC MPs would rally behind their ZANU PF colleagues when the proposed Bill is brought before parliament.