A local Zimbabwean political activist Youngerson Matete, who is founder and executive director of Project Vote 263 (formerly Project Launch 263), a non-partisan, youth-driven organisation that works to mobilise young people to register to vote and actively participate in democratic and electoral processes, has filed a court application seeking a declaratory order that the contentious Constitutional Amendment Bill N0.3 which will be introduced to parliament next week must be taken to a referendum if gets a two-thirds majority in the legislature.
In his application for a declaratory order, Matete cites parliament, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and Attorney-General Virginia Mabiza as the respondents.
After filing the application, Matete posted on social media:
"Constitutional Amendment Bill No 3; The Future of Democracy in Zimbabwe.
Today (yesterday), I filed a court application at the High Court of Zimbabwe seeking a declaratory order compelling Parliament and the Ministry of Justice to refer the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (Number 3) Bill to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for a referendum if it secures a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
The application seeks to stop Parliament from forwarding #CAB3 to the President for assent before a referendum is conducted, as some clauses seek to amend entrenched constitutional provisions protected under Section 328 of the Constitution.
The Constitution belongs to the people.
Democracy and constitutionalism must be defended."
Government says there is no need for a referendum because they are not removing presidential term limits, but changing the electoral cycle, while the opposition and civil society argue a referendum is a constitutional requirement.
I have been arrested. My passport seized. My citizenship stripped. As I write, @HStvNews , @bbmhlanga@olgamuteiwa and @FaithZaba sit in our courts for telling the truth to power.
Some of us have already paid. Some of us are paying still. We have no intention of stopping.
These past few weeks I saw a glimpse of the Zimbabwe I have dreamed of all my life. I watched the Flag fill our timelines. I watched strangers across class and politics draft submissions to Parliament. I watched ordinary citizens take time off the daily hustle just to be counted. For a brief and beautiful moment, we remembered who we are.
Make no mistake. Ian Smith's white minority rule has been replaced by ZANU PF's repressive black minority rule. The fuel cartel. The procurement carnival around Tagwirei, Chivayo and Tungwarara. Wealth that tracks state tenders, not honest markets.
We will not be freed by another strongman. We will be freed by strong institutions and an awake citizenry.
The nation and the Constitution above party. Country before everything else.
Read the full essay 👇
https://t.co/rSjUIZmi7v
As a father, I believe one of the greatest responsibilities of a man is to honour and appreciate the woman who carries and nurtures the children that become part of his family. In doing so, respect for her family becomes a true reflection of one’s character, maturity and values.
As Minister of Youth, I wish to encourage our young citizens to embrace a culture of respect, dignity and restraint, particularly in moments of disagreement or personal conflict. True leadership is not demonstrated through intimidation, abuse of authority or the misuse of influence against others, especially women and the elderly.
No grievance, misunderstanding or separation should ever justify the use of power, money or office to suppress, intimidate or humiliate another family. Our children learn more from our conduct than from our words, and I want mine to inherit a legacy founded on respect, integrity, peace and humanity.
Peace begins with me. Peace begins with you. Peace begins with all of us.
“The President was invited by his counterpart to Zimbabwe. He had no knowledge of who would be there. When he was there, he had no sense of who this person was….”
South African presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says President Cyril Ramaphosa travelled to Zimbabwe at the invitation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and didn’t know who else would be there.
Ramaphosa has faced criticism over the meeting, which was attended by Wicknell Chivayo, a “person of interest” to South African law enforcement agencies. South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre, which tracks how criminals move money, has flagged transactions between a Chivayo-linked firm and a South African printing company.
@SpokespersonRSA says SA law enforcement should continue any investigations “with no fear or hesitation.”
Dear @CyrilRamaphosa | This is just to remind you that apart from your platinum investment chokehold, we are well aware of your diamond and gold smuggling syndicated operation with Emmerson Mnangagwa & the bunch of thieves around him. In the fullness of time, YOU WILL PAY DEARLY.
Samsung sells performance, Apple sells status. Samsung impresses the user. Apple impresses those who see the user. That's the difference. Unongosarudza kuti unoda kunakirwa nephone yako here or unoda kuti vanokuona vanakirwe nephone yako 😂😂😂