Human rights groups, including Zimbabwe Peace Project, have held an online protest, #ResistDictatorshipConstitution rally, against proposed constitutional amendments that would allow the president to handpick top judges.
The three-hour plus online rally sought to mobilise Zimbabweans to stop President Emmerson Mnangagwa from signing the amendments into law.
The amendments, passed by parliament last week, would allow the president to appoint judges to the constitutional, supreme and high courts without lawmakers’ approval.
Also, the president would choose his two vice presidents without an election and be able to delay the retirement of the chief justice by five years.
It was gathered that thousands of people protested online to avoid arrests amid a Covid-19 lockdown and ban on public gatherings.
Critics are accusing the ruling ZANU-PF party of seeking to undermine the judiciary. Zimbabwe Peace Project Director, Jestina Mukoko, was one of the organisers of the rally.
Mukoko said, ‘Should we just allow a few people to amend the constitution? As Zimbabweans, should we allow ourselves to be short-changed?
‘It removes the tenets that we want to aspire to get to as Zimbabweans: democracy, transparency and accountability. If these amendments are allowed to take root, it means what we will have at the end is a dictatorship and this is why we are saying #ResistDictatorshipConstitution’.
But Director of Information for ZANU-PF, Tafadzwa Mugwadi, said that the removal of a running mate clause was meant to ensure a president can choose his vice presidents and ensure stability of the government.
On hand-picking judges, Mugwadi said the procedure was not without precedent.
‘The process of appointment of Supreme Court judges in the United States of America is no different from the framework that has been put in place’, he said.
‘This is what happens across jurisdictions. The point that I am trying to make is not to say we are trying to follow the United States of America on this issue but the justice delivery system is a technical task that requires maturity, wisdom and experience’.
But contrary to Mugwadi’s comparison, in the U.S., presidents nominate Supreme Court justices but they must win approval in the Senate.
Along with the online protesters, the amendments have been condemned on social media by main opposition party the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance and its leader, Nelson Chamisa.
Source: VOA
Photo source: Paul Kagame
