By Staff Writer
THE Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) parliamentarians have laid the basis to dispute the Zimbabwe Elections Commission (ZEC) preliminary delimitation report which was tabled before parliament Friday.
The house adjourned sitting until Friday the 13th of January 2023 when Parliament will consider and adopt the report.
Harare East legislator, Tendai Biti immediately raised pertinent issues of concern ahead of parliament’s consideration next week.
“That Report will be measured on three issues: Procedurally was it made in terms of the law, substantively do recommendations comply with s161 (5) and (6) of the Constitution and any other law and does the data back the same,” he said.
While the opposition has not officially commented on the report, indications on the ground are that a backlash from the camp is highly possible.
The National Assembly has since set up an ad-hoc committee to analyse the report on the terms of reference which were questioned by opposition but clarified by the acting Parliament speaker Tatenda Mavetera who presided over the tabling process.
The ad-hoc committee was composed of a 13-member of CCC, Zanu PF and MDC Alliance MPs and senators.
Members include Zanu PF’s Pupurai Togarepi who is chairing the committee, Dexter Nduna; Kenneth Musanhi; Sen. Tsitsi Muzenda; Sen. David Parirenyatwa, Musa Ncube; Sen. Chief Siatabwa Siansali and Cuthbert Mpame.
The opposition MPs in the committee included Prince Sibanda and Anele Ndebele, CCC; David Tekeshe and Sen. Douglas Mwonzora from MDC Alliance.
Biti told journalists that the selection was not fair as Zanu PF members dominated the committee more than the other political parties.
During the tabling process, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said, “The Constitution of Zimbabwe section 161 Sub Section (1) states that once every 10 years, on a date or within a period fixed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to form as soon as possible after a population census, ZEC must conduct a delimitation of the electoral boundaries into which Zimbabweans provide.
“Whereas the ZEC commenced the delimitation process in June and submitted its preliminary report to His Excellency, President E. D. Mnangagwa on the 26th of December 2022.
“And whereas Section 161 Sub Section (7) (6) states that the President must cause the delimitation report to be laid before Parliament within seven days for Parliament’s consideration and referral for any issues to the President for ZEC’s consideration.
“I therefore, the Minister of Justice and Legal Parliamentary Affairs, do hereby lay the ZEC Preliminary Report before the National Assembly for consideration.”
