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Gonese seeks to revive Posa overhaul

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MDC-T chief whip and Mutare Central MP Innocent Gonese yesterday said he would seek leave with the House of Assembly to get Presidential assent to amendments to the Public Order and Security Act (Posa).

MDC-T chief whip and Mutare Central MP Innocent Gonese yesterday said he would seek leave with the House of Assembly to get Presidential assent to amendments to the Public Order and Security Act (Posa). SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER

His statements come amid reports that his motion to have Posa amended is still stuck in the Senate since 2011 and has been superseded by the prorogation of two new parliamentary sessions.

According to parliamentary affairs analyst John Makamure, Schedule 4 of the constitution stipulates that if Senate delays deliberation on a Bill for 90 days, the President can be asked to sign it into law without the approval of the chamber.

“I am looking at the feasibility of seeking leave with the House of Assembly to get the Public Order and Security Amendment Bill signed into law if 90 days elapse without Senate taking action on it,” Gonese told NewsDay this week.

“It is one of the options that can be taken since there has been no commitment to conclude Posa and I will discuss with members of my political party (MDC-T) to consider that option.” Veritas — the publishers of online news portal Bill Watch — also said Parliament regulations stipulated that a Bill which originated from the House of Assembly and not passed by Senate after 90 days could be signed into law by the President.

According to Makamure, Gonese only needs an appropriate quorum (25 MPs) present in the House of Assembly to vote for his Bill to be taken for Presidential assent.

Amendments to Posa were adopted by the House of Assembly in 2011, but progress on the Bill was thwarted by Justice and Legal Affairs minister Patrick Chinamasa in Senate in August 2011 when he said it was being discussed by Global Political Agreement negotiators.

Gonese’s Bill was meant to amend Posa that President Robert Mugabe’s government relied on to stifle dissent and suppress opposition through banning of ralies and demonstrations.