NEWLY-APPOINTED Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Justice Rita Makarau may not be able to assume office before the March 16 constitutional referendum as only five days remain before her appointment is regularised. REPORT BY CHIEF REPORTER
This would leave acting commission chairperson Joice Kazembe to run the show.
Parliamentary watchdog, Bill Watch, says according to the constitution President Robert Mugabe should have consulted both the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Parliamentary Standing Rules and Orders Committee (SROC) before Makarau’s appointment.
But with the SROC members scattered around the country on an awareness campaign for the draft constitution, Bill Watch says it was now impossible for the regularisation of Makarau’s appointment before the referendum date.
“The JSC met within days of the announcement,” observed the Bill Watch.
“SROC chairperson, Speaker of the House of Assembly Lovemore Moyo has, therefore, circulated the names of the two nominees (Makarau and incoming Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission chairperson Jacob Mudenda) to all SROC members asking for their views in the hope of being able to give a response to the President without a full meeting.
“The Speaker, however, said he was still waiting for responses from members and that an early SROC meeting might be difficult to arrange. This makes it unlikely that Justice Makarau will be able to assume office at ZEC before the Referendum on 16th March.”
Makarau, a former non-constituency MP, was appointed on February 19 to replace Justice Simpson Mutambanengwe who resigned from the top post last month citing health concerns.
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Mudenda, former Zanu PF politburo member and Matabeleland North governor, replaces top lawyer Reg Austin who resigned from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission citing political interference and lack of government support.
Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara agreed on the appointments without consulting MDC leader Welshman Ncube, also a principal in the coalition government. Ncube is challenging the appointment.
