What Zimbabwe MPs said about the Constitution Amendment Bill- Part Six

There has been a lot of interest in the heated debate that ensued in Parliament on Tuesday, 20 June, over the Constitution Amendment Bill which seeks to give the President powers to appoint the top three judicial officers of the nation. The constitution says they must be selected after interviews. For the benefit of our readers were hereby serialize the debate.

*HON. MATAMBANADZO:  Thank you Mr. Chair for this opportunity that you have given me to add my voice on this Bill that is giving us challenges.  This Bill is a challenge because we want  to empower our President to appoint the judges and the opposition is not in agreement because they are torching their houses with fire by belittling the country that supports them, which is Britain – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – I want to warn them because they will be chased away from Britain because of what they are doing – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

Mr. Chairperson, I am saying they should seriously take what I am saying because I am helping them by putting them in line since they are endangering their lives.  In Britain what they do, I am telling them what they do not see but what I see, when the British Prime Minister appoints a judge.  The judge will be presented to the House of Lords to find out whether or not what the Prime Minister has done is right or not.  They are not realizing that is what we want to do here.  When the President appoints a judge, he or she will be presented to the Senate.  They are belittling Britain by claiming the British do not know what they are doing – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

*HON. MARIDADI:  My point of order is that people should be quiet and allow us to follow the debate.  We want to hear what the Hon. Member is saying because it is his constitutional right.  We should honour even the rights of lunatics so let us accord him his right so that he speaks as articulated in our Constitution.  Thank you, the people should be quiet because it is his constitutional right– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – 

*THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON:  Order, order Hon. Maridadi, we do not have lunatics in this House.  We have sane people, please withdraw your statement.

*HON. MARIDADI:  I did not say that he is a lunatic.  It is every individual’s right and there is no lunatic in Parliament.  I am in agreement with you Mr. Chairperson.  Let me clarify, I did not say he is a lunatic but I am saying the rights of the lunatics should also be respected – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – He is not a lunatic but lunatics have got rights.  There are no lunatics in Parliament but I am saying even if one is a lunatic, let us give him the floor.  I withdraw the statement.

*HON. MATAMABANADZO:  Mr. Chairperson, you heard Hon. Maridadi calling me a lunatic – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

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