31 July Protests Seek To Overturn Democratic Process – ZANU PF

ZANU PF has described planned nationwide demonstrations against Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3 as a challenge to the country’s constitutional order, saying calls for 31 July protests seek to reopen a process the party says was lawfully concluded through public consultation and Parliament.

ZANU PF director of information Farai Marapira said the mobilisation against the newly enacted law is an attempt to overturn a democratic outcome rather than legitimate political dissent.

Marapira added that the amendment secured overwhelming parliamentary approval after what he described as an extensive constitutional process.

“The mobilisation we are witnessing represents the death throes of a minority that has consistently found itself on the wrong side of recent history,” Marapira said.

Marapira argued that the Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3 reflected the will of the electorate as expressed through public consultations, Parliament, the Senate and the President, noting that the legislation comfortably exceeded the constitutionally required two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament.

He said this was not the work of a political elite imposing its will, but the fulfilment of resolutions adopted at two successive National People’s Conferences.

Marapira said groups opposed to the legislation had exhausted every constitutional avenue available to influence the outcome, including public hearings, parliamentary debates and Senate deliberations, and had failed to persuade the majority.

“To now resort to threats of demonstrations is not a demonstration of respect for democracy. It is simply sour grapes from those who can not accept or respect the will of the people because it is not on their side,” he said.

Marapira’s remarks come as citizen groups and opposition coalitions prepare for demonstrations against the constitutional amendment, which Mnangagwa signed into law on 7 July.

He acknowledged that Section 59 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution guarantees the right to demonstrate and petition peacefully, but argued that the right must be exercised within the limits prescribed by law and in a manner that does not infringe on the rights of others.

“This is not an absolute right,” he said. “It must be exercised within the parameters and framework of the law and without infringing on the rights of others.”

Marapira said ZANU PF regards the constitutional process around Amendment Act No. 3 as complete and irreversible, while maintaining that the party remains open to engagement on issues arising after the enactment of the law.

He said the party remains prepared to engage with stakeholders on working within the new constitutional framework.

-ZiFM Stereo-