• admin
• Herald
• June 6, 2012
• 31 views

Squabbles stall finalisation of new Constitution

Felex Share Herald Reporter
THE envisaged draft Constitution is not coming out anytime soon as squabbles between Copac co-chairpersons and the management committee have stalled the finalisation of the new supreme law.
The management committee, made up of GPA negotiators, yesterday said Copac had failed to produce a draft despite being given several deadlines, while the co-chairs said the management committee was failing to convene a meeting to resolve outstanding issues.

The co-chairs said instead of speeding up the process, the management committee had decided to go for another retreat in Nyanga from June 17 to 21 to tackle the so-called contentious issues.
This means there will be no progress between now and June 21, despite calls by the principals to expedite the process as the country prepares for elections expected this year.

Copac co-chair Cde Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana (Zanu-PF) yesterday said: “We have a list of agreed and disagreed issues to take to the management committee for resolution, but there is no meeting in sight at the moment.

“It was our hope that we would meet soon as the management committee to resolve disagreements, but we now understand there will be a retreat in Nyanga on June 17, a situation which drives the Constitution far from being completed.

• admin
• Herald
• June 6, 2012
• 43 views

Zinara U-turn illegal, say legal experts

Daniel Nemukuyu and Tendai Mugabe
THE Zimbabwe National Road Administration yesterday came under sharp criticism from legal experts and motorists for scrapping the June 30 vehicle licensing deadline extension.

Legal experts said the decision was unlawful and contestable.
They said it was skewed, outrageous and wrong at law.
Motorists weighed in accusing Zinara of shortchanging them.

Zinara on Tuesday scrapped the deadline hardly a week after granting the motorists a reprieve.
Yesterday, motorists who failed to display valid licence discs were being fined.
Lawyers said in terms of the Administrative Justice Act and Common Law, a Government department should issue reasonable notices under such circumstances.

Advocate Lewis Uriri said Zinara acted outside the law and in the absence of due notice for the revocation, motorists were free to contest the decision in court.

“All motorists were informed of the deadline extension and got legitimate expectation that they will not be bothered by traffic cops on the roads until June 30,” said Adv Uriri.
“Zinara, being a public authority, should have conducted itself in accordance with the law. The revocation is unlawful and motorists can safely challenge it.”
Advocate Thabani Mpofu blasted Zinara in a statement.