Manicaland residents continue backing CAB3

Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
PUBLIC hearings on Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill continued in Manicaland today, with thousands of citizens overwhelmingly backing the proposed changes to the country’s governance system.
Meetings were held at Chipembere Business Centre in Makoni and Sakubva Beit Hall in Mutare, with attendees showing strong support for the amendments.
The parliamentary team, led by chairman Honourable Supa Mandiwanzira is conducting the hearings across the province to hear people’s views on the proposed changes, which include extending presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years and introducing a parliamentary system for electing the President.
The hearings will continue today in Chipinge and Chimanimani, and conclude on Thursday in Buhera.
Mr Kudzanai Chipanga, of Headlands Constituency backed the proposal to extend the presidential, parliamentary, and council election cycle from five to seven years.
He also supported the appointment of 10 additional Senators, saying this would give the President a wider range of professionals to choose from, up from the current five.
“I support the change as it will allow for more stability and development,” said Mr Chipanga.
Mr Edmore Madhume, of Makoni North also welcomed the proposed changes, arguing that judges should not be subjected to public interviews, and also supported the creation of a delimitation commission and the transfer of voter registration from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Registrar General.
“The current system is flawed, and these changes will improve the electoral process,” said Mr Madhume.
Chief Makoni said 99 percent of Makoni residents support the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3, adding that traditional leaders should be involved in politics, citing their role in initiating the First Chimurenga and the liberation war.
“The people of Makoni fully support the proposed amendments due to their good intentions. We agree with the bill. Traditional leaders should be involved in politics – our ancestors initiated the First Chimurenga and died for their political beliefs. There is no chieftainship without politics. Those opposing traditional leaders’ involvement in politics are misinformed. The liberation war succeeded due to traditional leaders’ and spirit mediums’ involvement. Freedom fighters reported to us upon returning from Zambia and Mozambique; we commissioned them to fight, and they succeeded. The colonisers understood the importance of traditional leaders’ role in the war,” said Chief Makoni.
Honourable Mandiwanzira said the committee conducted two public hearings, and was impressed by the turnout at Chipembere and Sakubva Beit Hall.
“We are excited about the turnout and the eagerness of Zimbabweans in these particular areas to participate in the processes of Parliament, to participate in the hearings and make known their views with regards the Constitution Amendment Bill Number 3. So we are very excited and satisfied that everyone is getting an opportunity to express their views and comment on the clauses that have been gazetted. There is no fear, and people are expressing those particular views without fear or intimidation.
“After this public hearings, a report is going to be compiled taking into account all the views that have been received from every contributor at every public hearing that we have had so far, and those that we are going to have in Chimanimani, Chipinge and Buhera districts. A report is going to be compiled, and that report is going to be tabled in parliament in the National Assembly as well as in the Senate. It will form a part of the consideration for what will be final in terms of the bill,” said Honourable Mandiwanzira.