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Cde Chinamasa

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ZANU-PF is not contemplating amending the new Constitution anytime soon despite the overwhelming over two-thirds majority it enjoys in the National Assembly which gives it the power to do so.The party’s deputy secretary for Legal Affairs, Cde Patrick Chinamasa,  who is also outgoing Justice and Legal Affairs Minister, dismissed claims by MDC-T that Zanu-PF wanted to use its majority in the National Assembly to make changes to the new Constitution.

“We have the power to make changes anytime because we have what it takes to do that, but we have no such intentions in the interim.
“We have not sat down as a party to discuss about that nor has anyone raised such an issue.

“These are simply statements coming from people who fear that because they no longer have any say (in Parliament) changes might be made to the new Constitution.”

Zanu-PF surpassed the two-thirds majority threshold of 180 seats in the National Assembly by clinching 197 of the 270 seats, leaving MDC-T with 70, MDC two, with the remaining seat held by independent legislator for Mudzi South Mr Jonathan Samukange, who failed to land the Zanu-PF ticket but has since professed to be de jure independent but de facto Zanu-PF.

In the Upper House of 80 members, Zanu-PF accounts for 37 seats, MDC-T 21 and MDC one, with chiefs coming in with 18 members and people with disabilities being represented by two special interest senators.

This effectively means the revolutionary party can amend the new Constitution if need be. Cde Chinamasa said Zanu-PF was a “very methodical” party and would not just rush to make changes to the supreme law without a valid reason.

He said any changes would be done in consultation with the people as they are the owners of the Constitution.
“We are a very methodical political party and we do things for a purpose,” he said.

“We are the party that decides and might only amend the new Constitution if there is a good reason for doing so.
“Remember, this is a Constitution for the people and on every move they have to be consulted. No one should send wrong messages to the people that Zanu-PF is changing the Constitution at the moment.”

There have been concerted efforts by MDC-T and some sections of the media to create alarm and despondency in the country following President Mugabe’s crushing victory in the July 31 harmonised elections.

After the massive defeat, MDC-T and its sympathisers have desperately tried to paint a gloomy outlook of the economy by claiming that the incoming Zanu-PF Government was planning to immediately reintroduce the Zimbabwe dollar.

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono dismissed the claims, saying the country would use the multi-currency regime for the “foreseeable future.”

He said when the time comes; the local currency would circulate alongside other existing currencies. The same pro-MDC-T websites and the party’s trolls on social media had also claimed that fuel prices had gone up and that South Africa had reintroduced visa requirements for Zimbabweans wishing to travel to that country.

The reports were quashed by the respective authorities.