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Justice Makarau

Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Rita Makarau has urged Government to expedite the alignment of laws with the new Constitution to enable the body to fulfil its duties of preparing and managing the voters’ roll.

Justice Makarau was speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on Friday in honour of Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa’s elevation to the vice presidency.

“All lawyers celebrate your (Cde Mnangagwa) appointment as the Vice President and we have no doubt that your appointment is in recognition of your leadership qualities and immense sense of nationalism.

“Your ministry is saddled with the mammoth task of aligning laws to the new Constitution. It is important that we ensure that ZEC is mandated to prepare, register and keep the voters roll,” said Justice Makarau.

Chapter 12 of the Constitution empowers ZEC to prepare for, conduct and supervise all elections and referendums in Zimbabwe.

It is also the electoral commission’s duty to ensure that the elections are free and fair; to register voters or supervise registration of voters; and to compile voter’s rolls and registers, or supervise the compilation of these, and ensure their custody and maintenance.

Justice Makarau said the realignment of laws with the new Constitution will erase any ambiguity regarding the composition and functions of the electoral body.

Speaking at the same luncheon, chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Mr Elasto Mugwadi said his commission cherished Vice President Mnangagwa’s pronounced view and advocacy for the removal of the death penalty from the statute books.

“The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission recognises the efforts and contributions you (VP Mnangagwa) have made and continue to make in advancing human rights in Zimbabwe going back to the liberation struggle in which you courageously, unflinchingly and heroically participated to remove an unjust system grounded on racial discrimination and separate development,” Mr Mugwadi said.

Vice President Mnangagwa thanked staff in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for organising the luncheon that allowed relaxed interaction with staff.

“I have been part of you as the Minister of Justice before my recent appointment to the post of Vice President, and the good thing is that I am still a part of you while I am serving in my new post as the Vice President. I hope that we will continue working well together,” VP Mnangagwa said.