Bulawayo constitutional amendment hearing marked by chaos

The Parliamentary public hearing on the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 held at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo on Monday drew thousands of people. However, what was meant to be a platform for citizen input has sparked controversy, amid allegations that the process was exclusionary, involved organised bussing and may have been orchestrated.

The hearing, conducted by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, was intended to gather public input on proposed constitutional changes. Instead, the manner of the hearings raised serious questions about the legitimacy of the views submitted and whether the process truly reflected the will of the people. For many in Bulawayo, Monday’s events have already cast doubt on the credibility of the exercise.

Those locked out included both prominent citizens and ordinary residents who had hoped to participate in shaping what is one of the most consequential constitutional proposals in Zimbabwe’s post-2013 era. When the media arrived, Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial officials appeared to be directing proceedings inside the venue, raising concerns about political influence over what should be a parliamentary process. The hearing started at 10am and ended at 11:28am, despite indications that each session would last at least two hours and assurances that members of the public would be given adequate time to air their views.

[paywall]

Inside the hall, proceedings were chaired by Elizabeth Masuku, who opened the session by outlining the constitutional obligation for public participation. “Section 141 requires Parliament to facilitate public involvement in its legislative processes… and Section 328(4) compels Parliament to invite members of the public to express their views through written submissions and hearings,” she said. Masuku urged participants to identify specific clauses in the Bill when making submissions, noting that the proposed law contains 22 clauses. However, as the hearing unfolded, concerns began to emerge about the nature of that participation.

[/paywall]