Source: Minister defends Posa, Aippa – DailyNews Live
Blessings Mashaya 24 March 2018
HARARE – Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has
defended Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa) and
the Public Order and Security Act (Posa) saying the two laws will not
impede the holding of free and fair elections.
Ziyambi told the National Assembly this week during debate on the
Electoral Amendment Bill that Zimbabwe is not the only country with such
kind of laws and it is not specific to elections.
MDC MP for Mabvuku Tafara James Maridadi was concerned about Posa and
Aippa.
“We believe that these are not electoral related legislations per se.
They are of general application.
“Posa pertains to the way that we conduct ourselves and we have equivalent
legislation in many countries and this is a legislation that is not
specific to elections but, it is available in most countries.”
Aippa was introduced a decade ago by the former minister of Information
Jonathan Moyo and has been used selectively.
The law was used in the banning of the Daily News in September 2003, and
persecution of journalists working for the private media.
Ziyambi also added people in the Diaspora and prisoners will be not be
allowed to vote.
“I would like to say that even those that are in the Diaspora, the law is
very clear that our voting is in a particular polling station.
“What it means is that even if you are in Zimbabwe, in Mutare and voting
is taking place; your constituency is in Bulawayo, on voting day you will
not be able to exercise your vote. So, similarly if you are not in your
particular polling station on polling day, you cannot exercise your right
to vote.
“I would like to say that our system of voting is residents based. What it
means is that because it is residents based, there have been calls that
some people who are in prison, some in hospital should be allowed to vote.
“When we go and register, the Constitution allows in Section 157, that an
Electoral Act be provided for that specifying the registration
qualifications to say that you are supposed to register in this particular
place.
“Now, if we speak of people who are in prison and those that are in
hospitals, particularly those that are in prisons, I think we cannot
extend that right.
“They have ceded their right by virtue of being criminals and we think
that we cannot extend that right to prisoners when we are even not
extending the right to those that are in the Diaspora.”
Ziyambi further said, “There were also issues to deal with the media
coverage on elections.
“We believe that the Electoral Act adequately provides for equal access
for political parties to the broadcast media and I think members can go to
Section 160 G of the Act on access to public media.
“….Maridadi was concerned about fees for accreditation purposes and we
believe that this practice is noble.
“It also capacitates Zec to carry out their work and we do not see any
reason why it should be done away with.”
COMMENTS