THE sacking of Vice-President Joice Mujuru and her Cabinet allies has been met with mixed feelings with some saying it was nothing out of the ordinary as the signs had long been seen, while others said it was unfortunate.
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Tamuka Chirimambowa of Harare said the firing had long been on the cards.
“I think the writing was on the wall and nothing much to talk about. These people sacked were no angels for they are also responsible for where Zimbabwe is,” Chirimambowa said.
Social commentator Blessing Vava said President Robert Mugabe does not want ambitious people in Zanu PF.
“The moment he suspects any ambitious opponents he thwarts them, and it is unfortunate that the reasons for the sacking are flimsy, because none of the ministers in the present Cabinet, including Mugabe himself, have been performing,” Vava said.
However, Nyamutatanga Makombe said the sackings should be looked at in the context of who were appointed to replace them.
“It is interesting to look at how the centre of power has remained in the Mashonaland provinces. Ignatius Chombo, Saviour Kasukuwere and Grace Mugabe all hail from the north of the country,” he said.
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Constitutional law expert Professor Lovemore Madhuku added Mugabe was within his power to fire Mujuru.
“The new Constitution still gives the President so much power to hire and relieve and there is no format on how he can do it, dismissals can be made anywhere and anytime,” he said.
But another constitutional law expert Greg Linnington said the dismissal was unprocedural.
“According to the Constitution, the President cannot just remove a VP just like that, that is according to section 97. There is need for Parliament to do that. The President no longer has discretion to remove the VP just like that,” he said.
Human rights lawyer Chris Mhike said while Section 108 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe specifically empowers the President to remove a Cabinet minister from office, Section 106 does not authorise the President to fire a Vice-President.
“The President is legally obliged to act strictly and specifically in terms of the law. And the law relating to the removal of a Vice-President is to be found under section 97 of the Constitution (not s106),” Mhike said.
“At the end of the day, there usually are many interpretations to sections of the law, in the same way Bible verses get a myriad of interpretations — sometimes with opposite consequences. It is usually the interpretation of he or she who wields power that carries the day.”
