Cabinet, Parliament next as 2030 resolution advances 

Source: Cabinet, Parliament next as 2030 resolution advances – herald

Conrad Mupesa and Walter Nyamukondiwa-Mashonaland West Bureau

THE process to amend Zimbabwe’s Constitution in line with ZANU PF Resolution Number One, which seeks to extend President Mnangagwa’s term of office to 2030, is nearing completion, ZANU PF Secretary for Legal Affairs Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi has said.

Principles of the amendment are likely to be taken to Cabinet when it resumes sitting in February, after President Mnangagwa returns from his annual leave.

Once Cabinet has considered the principles, the amendment Bill will be introduced in Parliament. If Parliament passes the Bill, it will then be sent to the President for assent.

Cde Ziyambi, who is also the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, said the Constitution lawfully provides for amendments, stressing that no law is immune to change except biblical scripture.

“Only the Bible is immune to amendment. The Constitution of Zimbabwe allows for changes and amendments, and that is exactly what we are following,” he said.

He was addressing the party’s first Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting for Mashonaland West this year, held in Chinhoyi yesterday.

Cde Ziyambi acknowledged that the proposed amendment was likely to face resistance from some quarters, but said the process was both constitutional and legally sound.

“When we made this resolution as ZANU PF, it was for the party, not for President Mnangagwa. His personal input is of no significance because this is the will of the party,” he said.

He dismissed claims that the resolution was influenced by the President, saying it was a collective party position.

Cde Ziyambi added that once all legal procedures had been followed, President Mnangagwa would be constitutionally obliged to assent to the amendment.

“Be that as it may, the President cannot refuse to assent to the amendment because it will be beyond him once it is lawfully passed,” he said, drawing loud applause from party members.

He took a swipe at critics of the proposed amendment, accusing them of selectively defending the Constitution, while ignoring provisions that allow for its amendment.

“We are going to encounter the so-called defenders of the Constitution who will attack this process,” he said. “The Constitution was made by people for the people, and it allows for amendments where there is a need.

“Some will want to defend the Constitution as if it were the Bible’s Ten Commandments. Only the Ten Commandments are immune to amendment.”

Turning to party affairs, Cde Ziyambi urged ZANU PF members in Mashonaland West to remain united and disciplined, saying unity was essential for productivity and the effective implementation of party programmes.

“Currently, the opposition is at its weakest and clueless, but there have been fights within the party that are derailing productivity. When we are united, we are more productive,” he said.

He warned party members against name-dropping and the misuse of senior leaders’ names for personal gain.

Mashonaland West provincial chair Cde Mary Mliswa-Chikoka said the province was ready for the Cell Verification Day scheduled for this coming Saturday.

She said the party was confident of winning the Chegutu Ward 1 seat in the February 21 by-election.

The seat fell vacant following the death of CCC councillor Kimpton Mkombwe last December in a mine shaft collapase at Bluerock Mine in Gadzema.

ZANU PF conducted primary elections on Monday to select its candidate, with former MDC-A Chegutu West parliamentary candidate Cde Gift Konjana emerging the winner.

Cde Konjana defected to ZANU PF in 2023.