Source: Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs had to abandon its public hearing on the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill a few minutes into the proceedings after disturbances erupted at Mbuya Nehanda Hall in Marondera on Tuesday, February 21, 2017.
Parliament is currently carrying out hearings to gather people’s views on the proposed Amendment Bill which seeks to give the President unchecked powers to handpick the Chief Justice, the Deputy Chief Justice and the Judge President of the High Court.
Only two speakers from the floor made their contributions during the brief proceedings chaired by Zanu-Pf MP for Zvimba West, Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi at the venue in Dombotombo Township.
A third speaker was interrupted mid-way by a rowdy group after expressing the view that senior judges like the Chief Justice, the Deputy Chief Justice and the Judge President should not be handpicked by the President but selected by a special committee through public interviews.
The tiff pitting those supporting the constitutional amendment and those opposing it then ensured for close to an hour.
When a scene of pushing and shoving resulted from the heated argument which the Portfolio Committee was unable to stop, the rest of the people walked out of the hall, confirming that the hearing had prematurely ended.
Source: Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)