Mnangagwa Accused Of Abusing Presidential Powers
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been accused of abusing powers enshrined in the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act to make autonomous pronouncements that violate human rights.
A 2020/21 report on civic society submissions to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) states that since assuming power in 2017, Mnangagwa has unnecessarily invoked the Act, and has made 25 proclamations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
APRM is Africa’s governance self-assessment tool by civic society organisations (CSOs) which aims to improve governance on the continent by advocating for the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability.
The report said Mnangagwa’s COVID-19 pronouncements resulted in by-elections being postponed.
It said the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act grabbed the law-making function ordinarily vested in Parliament. The CSOs said in their submissions:
HOT DEALS:
itel A70 - (128GB, 3GB RAM) $89,
itel A70 - (256GB, 4GB RAM) $99
itel P40 (128GB, 4GB), (6000mAh) $99
itel P40 (64GB, 4G), (6000mAh) $93
Cash on Delivery in Harare & Bulawayo. Tinotumira kwamuri inosvika.
WhatsApp: 0783 450 793
The President invoked this Act to counter the COVID-19 crisis which gave him the power to implement unilateral regulations without Parliamentary oversight.
The Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Deferral of Rent and Mortgage Payments during National Lockdown) Regulations, 2020 is a typical example of the unilateral implementation of regulations by the President.
For the better part of 2020 and 2021, the country was operating at various degrees of the national lockdown implemented through presidential powers without Parliamentary approval.
While it is understandable that the country and the world were tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and that extraordinary measures needed to be taken, the overuse of presidential powers to implement over 25 regulations impacted citizens’ rights to representation.
The CSOs said a COVID-19-induced state of disaster was not a state of emergency.
It said giving extensive powers to the President to enact regulations on issues that should be regulated through an Act of Parliament was an insult to the principle of separation of powers.
The report further raised alarm over the continued shrinking of civic space and the government’s intolerance of dissent.
The CSOs also said the proposed introduction of a Patriotic Bill, which, according to government officials, is meant to criminalise campaigning against one’s own country is another worrisome development.
More: NewsDay
