Electoral Amendment Bill: Parliament goes against Constitution says Chikwinya #ElectionsZW
Mbizo legislator Settlement Chikwinya has criticised Parliament for going against the Constitution in conducting public hearings for the Electoral Amendment Bill on radio and on zoom only.
The Electoral Amendment Bill is one of the critical bills that will shape the holding of the 2023 General elections.
Civic society organisations, political parties, and individuals have been mobilising their members to participate.
However, the decision to conduct the public hearings via zoom and radio will likely shortchange some citizens who have no means of connecting or tuning to the platforms on the day.
Speaking on the issue, Honourable Chikwinya said the move is wrong as some citizens will struggle to participate.
“Public Hearings on Electoral Amendment Bill to be done on radio and zoom. This is against the spirit of Sec 141 of the Constitution which provides that Parliament must put in place measures to provide easy access to Parliamentary proceedings and involve all citizens.
“My grandmother in Chikwalkwala has no access to Zimbabwean radio stations and neither does she have an internet connection.
“Those intending to call have to buy airtime for them to call Radio Stations thereby incurring a cost for them to participate in Parliamentary proceedings. Those on Zoom have to pay for Data!!
Honourable Chikwinya also queried why Parliament opted to leave other radio stations.
“Star FM yacho kuno haitobate. Why pick on those radios only, why not other National Stations, vele why on radio nhai,” he said.
It remains to be seen how villagers in remote parts of the country who hardly receive mobile telephone networks or radio frequencies will participate in the process that is being fast-tracked.
Parliament is required by law to involve the citizens in policy formulation
Electoral Amendment Bill: Parliament goes against Constitution says Chikwinya #ElectionsZW
