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Zimbabwe Opposition Accuses Government of Trying to Undermine Judiciary

Columbus Mavhunga

   HARARE - Critics are accusing Zimbabwe's rulingparty of seeking to
   undermine the judiciary after lawmakers late Tuesdayapproved
   constitutional amendmentsso the president can handpicktopjudges.

   Theamendments, whichawaitPresident Emmerson Mnangagwa's signatureto
   become law,allowhimto choose judges for the Constitutional, Supreme and
   High Courts withouttheapprovalof legislators.

   Long-time ruler Robert Mugabe had similar powers for years until they
   were stripped away in the constitutionthat waspassed in 2013.

   Dewa'¯Mavhinga, head of Human Rights Watch in southern
   Africa,urgedrights organizations in Zimbabwetochallenge the law in
   court or hold protests.
   Dewa'¯Mavhinga, head of Human Rights Watch in southern Africa on May 5,
   2021 urged rights organizations in Zimbabwe to challenge the law in
   court or hold protests.

   "It is a law that should not be allowed to see the light of day because
   it undermines the rule of law in Zimbabwe. (It) is an authoritarian law
   that undermines the principle of separation of powers because it puts
   excessive powers in the office of the president and strips and weakens
   the judiciary in the sense that it gives the president power to appoint
   senior judges without going to public interviews,"Mavhinga said.

   Theamendments would also allowa sitting president to extend the age of
   retirement ofthechief justice by five years. Zimbabwe's sitting chief
   justice,LukeMalaba,turns 70 this month and was dueto retire.

   The amendments bill alsoextends - by 10 years - the quotaof 60 women in
   the 350-personparliament. The quota was supposed to endwith the current
   term in 2023.

   Anotherchangewouldgive the presidenttheright to appoint his two vice
   presidents, instead of the vice presidents being elected.

   Justice MinisterZiyambiZiyambi-- who is from the rulingZANU-PFparty--
   told reporters that he was happy about the constitutional amendments.
   Zimbabwe Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi -- who is from the ruling
   ZANU-PF party -- told reporters in Harare on May 4, 2021, that he was
   happy about the constitutional amendments.(VOA/Columbus Mavhunga)

   "What happened is very historic. What this means is we are now going to
   remove the contentious running mate clause that was badly
   drafted.So,it's a very joyousoccasion;it allows government and even
   political parties to start planning for the 2023 elections knowing
   fully well that the women's quota is there. Our empowerment agenda is
   on course,"Ziyambi said.

   Opposition leader DouglasMwonzorawasone ofthe chiefdrafters of the 2013
   constitution. But some of members of his Movement for Democratic
   Changepartyvoted infavorof the amendments which passed Tuesday.

   "The majority of the women in theSenate did vote for the bill.
   Obviously,it is clear that theywere voting for the women's quota and
   the youths' quota. It is not a typical bill in which a leader or
   leaders of a party would whip people. Because that basically means
   whipping people against their gender. But we remain fortified that the
   running mate clause must be reinstated. We also think that the clause
   relating to the judges has to be dealt with,"Mwonzora said.
   Zimbabwe opposition leader Douglas Mwonzora addressing journalists in
   Harare on May 4, 2021 (VOA/Columbus Mavhunga)

   Critics say Mnangagwa took advantage of lockdown regulations, which
   forbid protests, and introduced the constitutional amendments, which
   have been condemned on social media bymain opposition party the
   Movement for Democratic Change Allianceand its leader, Nelson Chamisa.

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