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Why
more MPs?
Ray
Matikinye, The Zimbabwe Independent
October 06, 2006
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=11&id=7655&siteid=1
PRESIDENT Mugabe’s
disclosure at the weekend that the constitution will be amended
to increase parliamentary seats has raised the stakes in Zanu PF’s
highly-divisive succession struggle.
Mugabe said
the objective of increasing the number of seats was to cater for
the country’s growing population, although the last census showed
the population was in fact going down owing to migration and the
ravages of Aids. His remarks came as he warned party members against
fighting over his job.
Opposition parties
yesterday said they would mobilise against such an amendment if
they discover that it is meant to serve Zanu PF’s succession politics
rather than national interests.
Mugabe’s remarks
provided a further insight into how the party is anxious to find
ways of managing its problematic succession issue by extending patronage
to those now needed to support constitutional amendments providing
for transitional mechanisms.
Zanu PF last
year re-introduced a senate, apparently as part of efforts to deal
with Mugabe’s succession.
Movement for
Democratic Change (Mutambara faction) secretary-general, Professor
Welshman Ncube, who heads the Parliamentary Legal Committee, said
his party would resist such self-serving manoeuvres.
"We will oppose
that within the parameters of parliament," he said. "We will mobilise
against such an amendment until government realises Zimbabweans
should decide on the constitution together."
Ncube said while
the idea could be justified for large constituencies such as Insiza
that stretches at one point for 200km, Zanu PF’s intentions should
be taken with a pinch of salt.
"If we have
to amend the constitution we need a whole spectra of NGOs, civic
society and political parties to achieve a national consensus. These
piecemeal amendments do not help our situation at all," he said.
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