Zimbabwe tables bill to amend constitution

Zimbabwe tables bill to amend constitution

• Lawyers condemn constitutional amendment

• Aspiring Zanu PF senator dies of Aids

• Alex Magaisa: Constitutional amendment spells doom for economy

• Chinamasa admits Zanu PF has no two thirds majority

• Zimbabwe opposition snubs Mugabe

• Zimbabwe senate will last only 5 years

• Moyo fights senate constitutional amendment

• Mugabe recalls Zimbabwe parliament

• Zanu PF accelerates Senate plans

• Mugabe appoints nephew to new Cabinet

• Mugabe to extend term

• Moyo on opposition benches as MPs sworn in

• Nkomo new Speaker of Parliament

• Mugabe appoints governors, Cabinet expected

• Mugabe vows to rule for a century

• Zanu PF's victory rejected, MDC vows defiance

• Britain condemns 'flawed' Zanu PF victory

• Mugabe surges towards two thirds majority

By Staff Reporter

THE Zimbabwe government on Thursday tabled a controversial bill proposing to change the country's constitution to allow authorities to effectively nationalise all seized farmland and create a second upper legislative chamber.

Patrick Chinamasa, the Justice Minister, told parliament the constitutional changes were part of a promise made to the electorate when the ruling Zanu PF party was campaigning during the March 31 parliamentary elections. Zanu PF took a two thirds majority in the elections and is using this mandate to introduce a raft of changes to the constitution.

"I want to assure honourable members and the nation at large that Zanu PF will use this majority to effect constitutional changes which we promised the people during the run-up to the March 2005 elections," said Chinamasa.

Human rights activists and lawyers have slammed the controversial Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No.17 Bill of 2005, labelling it the latest in a long line of alterations to the constitution.

Zimbabwe's fundamental law has been amended 16 times by the ruling ZANU-PF government, the most notable being the abolition of the Prime Minister's position, which led to the creation of an Executive Presidency in 1987.

Under the draft Bill the government seeks the power to restrict freedom of movement in the name of national interest and security. If passed, the proposed legislation will give the state the right to suspend or withdraw the travel documents of citizens.

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said there was no need for law-abiding citizens to worry about the proposed changes because they were aimed at improving national security.

"All laws are created to protect national interests and this is just one of them. The restrictions on travel and movement are not new, as it is normal procedure for any suspects to be placed under such conditions," Chinamasa said.
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