Opposition blasted after amendments fast tracked through parliament

By Henry Makiwa
19 December 2007

Media organisations and civil society have questioned the sincerity of the opposition in the SADC-initiated political talks, following the “fast tracking” through parliament of amendments to contentious media and security bills, without debate, on Tuesday.

Amendments to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) were rushed through Parliament with only one opposition legislator raising objections. According to reports, the two factions of the MDC and the ruling Zanu PF sanctioned the amendments during ongoing talks mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki.

But media bodies and civil society have accused the opposition of “supping with Zanu PF” at the expense of the people’s freedom. In separate statements, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists’ have raised concerns that none of the negotiators at the talks consulted key stakeholders before drafting the amendments.

MISA director Rushweat Mukundu said: “The amendments were passed without any meaningful debate on the contentious provisions of the enabling Bills. All of them, including the Electoral Laws Amendment Bill, were passed without being referred to the relevant portfolio committees, as required by the Standing Rules and Orders of Parliament.

He added: “It is of great concern that the Bills in question received the scant attention of parliamentarians, despite their far-reaching implications on basic freedoms such as the right to freedom of expression, media freedom and freedom of assembly and association.”

Misa has criticised the amendments saying they dwell on ‘inconsequential administrative issues which do not even begin to advance the cause for basic freedoms such as the right to freedom of expression, media freedom and freedom of assembly and association.’

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa justified the fast tracking of the Bills saying, “This was done in order for them to be disposed of before Parliament breaks for the Christmas holidays.”

Pedzisayi Ruhanya, the programmes officer of Crisis Coalition Zimbabwe said: “Its quite apparent that someone in the opposition is selling out. The MDC is once again celebrating a stillbirth because these amendments are just cosmetic. They are no better than applying lipstick to a frog knowing that when it jumps back into the water, the make-up will vanish.”

This is the second time that the MDC factions have been accused of betraying their long-standing connections with civil groups in the country. Earlier this year, they voted with ZANU-PF for the first time ever in support of Amendment 18, the bill that harmonised the Presidential and Parliamentary elections next year.