Vox populi, vox Dei

BY MOSES MATENGA

This week was busy for politicians, journalists and citizens across Manicaland just like it was across the country.

I travelled the length and breadth of the province — from Nyamhuka Hall in Nyanga to Mutasa, Makoni, Mutare, Chipinge and Chimanimani — to attend public hearings on the proposed Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill.

What emerged clearly from the large turnouts is that Zimbabweans still want their political views heard.

Those who braved rain and heat to speak out deserve to be saluted for public participation in major political decisions is a fundamental democratic exercise.

The Latin phrase “Vox populi, vox Dei” — the voice of the people is the voice of God — was on display.

Background

Zimbabwe’s current constitution was gazetted in May 2013 after more than four years of public consultations and was approved in a referendum.

It has since been amended twice, first in 2017 and again in 2021.

Thirteen years after the 2013 “yes” vote, Parliament has begun public hearings on a third set of amendments.

The proposed changes include transferring voter registration and the management of the voters’ roll from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Registrar General, changing the method of electing the President from a direct popular vote to election by Parliament, and extending the presidential and parliamentary term from the current five to seven years.

At least 22 clauses are under consideration. Another notable change would remove automatic succession and give Parliament the power to appoint a successor if the incumbent leaves office.

What people said
across the province

Many attendees — particularly those perceived as Zanu PF supporters — argued that frequent elections are costly and trigger violence.

Wilson Khumbula of Chipinge said the country sheds blood during elections and should therefore consider longer terms in office.

Charles Mutonhodza from Nyanga told the hearings: “I subscribe to the proposal to add the election cycle for the President to seven years. If we do this, we would have eliminated what we call ‘election mode toxicity.’ In every election there is violence and conflict. We fail to have time for development because of electioneering.”
Kudzanai Chipanga, Makoni District’s Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee chairman and a former youth league secretary, said extending terms and having Parliament elect the President would reduce costs.
“We are always complaining that the country doesn’t have money,” he said. “We are losing millions to elections.”

Shingirai Mboto from Nyanga argued that five years is not enough for a President to learn, plan and implement projects: “There is at least a year for familiarisation, another for planning and another for implementation. Implementation is affected by electioneering when people focus on the next polls.”

Should Chief participate in politics?

The role of chiefs in politics provoked lively debate. Some contributors said that colonial regimes co-opted Chiefs as part of conquest and administration making the traditional leaders active in politics.

Others argue that traditional leaders remain important community figures and should have a say in political life.

The Chiefs themselves want to participate actively in politics and they said it during the hearings.

Chief Zimunya told the public hearing in Sakubva Mutare that a lot of money was being wasted in politics and elections.

He supported continuity over political fights and strongly supported lengthening of the term of office from five to seven years.
“The people have spoken on Amendment Number three Bill so l move with that as their leader,” Chief Zimunya said.

Chief Hata from Nyanga said : “We are in full support of Amendment Number three Bill as Chiefs. You can’t stop Chiefs from participating in politics because all the wars that were fought were fought to protect our land as traditional leaders so you may think we are not in politics but we are already active. If you don’t allow a Chief to support a party in power, who should the Chief support?” he said.

Public hearings and the state of the opposition

The opposition’s presence was weak.

Turnout at some venues suggested the ruling party had mobilised more effectively.

Journalists and attendees noted protests in Harare where opposition members claimed they were denied a platform to present their views. Opposition figures such as Tendai Biti and constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhuku continue to speak out, but their reach in some areas appears limited.

One commentator summed up the mood: “The opposition is in tatters.”

At the City Sports Centre in Harare, several kilometres away from where l covered, there was drama with opposition figures walking away without airing their views.

Concerns and implications were also raised though by individual voices who were in the larger minority.

They said the proposed amendments raise important legal and democratic questions with moving Presidential elections from a direct popular vote to a parliamentary vote concentrating selection power in the legislature and could weaken direct accountability to voters.

“When we fought in the liberation struggle, one of the issues we fought for was to ensure one-man-one-vote. That is going to be destroyed if this sail through and it defeats the purpose of why we went to war,” one of the contributors said.

Experts feel these are consequential reforms and should be debated openly, with clear information from Parliament and independent experts, and with opportunities for all political actors and civil-society groups to present reasoned arguments.

The citizen turnouts in Manicaland show that Zimbabweans care about the constitution and want their voices heard.

The proposed Third Amendment Bill touches the foundations of democratic practice and we wait to hear from Parliamentary reports but what is clear is those who spoke for the proposed amendments were in the majority and were clear.