Source: Voters hit MPs with court action over CAB3 -Newsday Zimbabwe
HARARE, June 2 (NewsDay Live) — Members of Parliament across Zimbabwe’s 210 constituencies were Tuesday served with court papers challenging the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), with applicants demanding that the proposed changes be subjected to a national referendum.
The legal challenge landed moments before the Bill’s first reading in Parliament, catching legislators off guard and forcing some to seek urgent legal advice, parliamentary sources said.
The applicants argue that the proposed amendments are too significant to be approved solely through a parliamentary vote and should instead be decided directly by citizens through a referendum.
CAB3 seeks to amend several constitutional provisions, including extending the terms of office for President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Parliament and local authority councillors by two years.
The court action adds fresh pressure to an already divisive debate that has drawn criticism from civil society groups, constitutional lawyers and political activists, who accuse the government of seeking constitutional changes for political convenience.
However, self-styled Citizens Coalition for Change secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu dismissed the applications as “political peacocking.”
In a statement issued Tuesday, the Citizens Coalition for Change said it respected citizens’ right to seek legal remedies but questioned the timing and nature of the litigation.
“The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has taken note of recent court applications filed by various individuals claiming to represent constituencies, in which some of our Members of Parliament are cited as respondents,” party spokesperson Nqobizitha Mlilo said.
“Our view is that matters affecting parliamentary representation and constitutional processes are best resolved through inclusive engagement and adherence to due process, rather than through litigation that risks politicising institutions and placing undue strain on the judiciary.”
The applications are expected to further intensify scrutiny of the Bill as Parliament begins considering the proposed constitutional amendments.
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