Controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill No.2 Signed Into Law

By Lloyd Takawira

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed the contentious second Amendment (No.2) of the Constitution into law.

The Bill got the nod in both the National Assembly 191 to 20 and Senate 65 to 10 votes.

The signed and gazetted amendments seeks to do away with the running mate clause as well as apportioning the President with unfated powers to appoint judges.

The clauses received criticism from many quarters of society with analysts describing the amendments as a regression and miscarriage of democracy in Zimbabwe.

The new law also removes a clause on running mates and retain the present system of the President appointing vice-presidents, extend the quota of extra women MPs by two more terms, add 10 more seats reserved for people aged 21 to 35 and extend the tenure of judges beyond 70 years of age.

Commenting on the developments journalist and government critic Hopewell Chin’ono said Zimbabweans deserved the amendments as no efforts were made to block the bill .

Chin’ono singled out constitutional law expert Alex Magaisa and young activist Namatai Kwekedzai for spiritedly campaigned against the bill .

“Amendment Number 2 has become law!. I want to thank 2 people who became the face of the physical, political and intellectual resistance to these illegal amendments!.Namatai Kwekweza Dr Alex Magaisa. Thank you for ALL that you have done, Aluta Continua!”

Writing on his BSR commenting on the new developments constitutional law expert Dr Alex Magaisa said Zimbabwe is “hurtling towards a Constitutional Crisis”

“It’s hard to imagine a situation where the Constitution has ever been more vulnerable. Its fate is in the hands of beneficiaries of the amendment. Will turkeys vote for Christmas?” said Magaisa


MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzai Mahere tweeted “What a dark, dark day for Zimbabwe.”