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the changes were effected on Schedule Six Part 2 of the constitutional Bill and serve to nullify Section 158 on publication day.
Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga confirmed the changes claiming they were necessary as there was no need for the constitution to provide for elections by June 29.
The national broadcaster flighted MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora taking chief correspondent Reuben Barwe through section 158 of the constitutional Bill that mirrors the one in the referendum draft.
Mr Mwonzora, however, conveniently skirted mentioning Schedule Six which carries the contentious amendments.
Part 2 of Schedule Six of the gazetted draft under section1(e) reads “this schedule together with Chapter 7, relating to elections, except Sections 158, 160 and 161’’ shall come into operation on publication day.
This amendment effectively nullifies clause 158 of the Constitutional Bill which stipulates, under 158(1)(a), that “a general election must be held so that polling takes place not more than 30 days before the expiry of the five-year period (of the life of Parliament) specified in section 143”.
The tenure of the Seventh Parliament ends at midnight on June 29 by which time a new Parliament should have been elected.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo was also quoted saying no alterations were made to section 158, which is true as the real deal is hidden in Schedule Six of the constitutional Bill.
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The surreptious, albeit illegal, changes dovetail with MDC-T’s agenda to defer harmonised elections to way after the demise of Parliament which is midnight, June 29.
The plot thickened with the inclusion of sections 160 (number of constituencies and wards) and 161 (delimitation of electoral boundaries) which will infact not be affected by the the amendments since they are covered by subsequent provisions under section 5 of the Sixth Schedule and putting them alongside Section 158 appeared to be a clear attempt at diversion.
These are the sections that members of the management committee are citing to back their claim that the amendments were aimed at fast-tracking the election process.
Online Reporter