MDC Alliance needs to win only one more seat to deny ZANU-PF a two-thirds majority

The Movement for Democratic Change Alliance which is contesting the results in 19 national assembly constituencies needs to win only one case to deny the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front a two-thirds majority which allows it to, among other things, change the national constitution.

Although ZANU-PF won five more seats above the two-thirds majority in the 210 elected seats, it only won 35 in the proportional representation seats to give it 180 seats in the 270 member lower house, exactly a two-thirds majority without any single seat to spare.

A single victory by the MDC could therefore reduce the number of seats to 179 which is below the two-thirds majority.

Some ZANU-PF legislators and officials have been talking about amending the constitution to raise the minimum age for one to qualify to contest for president.

Right now the age is 40 which Chamisa attained this year 12 days before the death of Morgan Tsvangirai on Valentine’s Day.

Chamisa went on to wrestle leadership of the party and contested as president losing narrowly to Emmerson Mnangagwa.

He has, however, rejected the result despite losing at the Constitutional Court.

This has led some of his critics to argue that Chamisa is insisting that he won because of immaturity. He cannot handle defeat because of his young age.

ZANU-PF youths have, however, vowed to contest any such proposal saying some of the party leaders like former Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) boss Josiah Tongogara were accomplished statesmen by the age of 40.

“When Gen Tongo died, he was 41. An accomplished war strategist and statesman. He was the leading beacon at Lancaster Negotiations. He unlocked impasses with his mature approach,” Nick Mangwana, the ZANU-PF chairman for the UK said.

“We cannot change our rules because of 1 self-destructive immature 40 year old. Let’s be progressive.”

(2050 VIEWS)