Zimbabwe's most oppressive bill set to pass next Tuesday

By Violet Gonda
25 August 2005

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."

There is also a provision that seeks to take away the rights of Zimbabweans to travel, a grave assault on a fundamental freedom.

He also said there was no full debate and national consensus on the bill saying Zimbabweans right across the country do not know about the amendments. He said the MDC had tabled its own amendments in the form of a new constitution for Zimbabwe Wednesday, based on what people said in 1999 and 2000, saying it was clear that the Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa wasn't going to consider any other amendments. The MDC later withdrew its amendments.

The Legal Secretary said the opposition had submitted this new constitution as a matter of public record so that the public can see that the MDC is serious about meaningful constitutional reform.

He said, "The ZANU PF amendments combine to form the greatest assaults on our human rights since independence in 1980. 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 these are indications of how terrified this regime is of its own people.