Vice President and Minister of Justice Emmerson Mnangagwa has dismissed claims that Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill Number 1 which deals with the appointment of the Chief Justice and other top judges, is meant for his benefit. Mnangagwa said that it was actually backed by cabinet as evidenced by the lack of resignations. He also attacked critics of the bill who he described as mischievous and “dangerous to our constitutional democracy.”
Said Mnangagwa:
Let me put it on record that this is not a self-serving amendment to the Constitution, as what MPs have been at pains to try and portray.
It is my firm belief that those that introduced those notions are not only mischievous, but are dangerous to our constitutional democracy and themselves.
The fact that we have not seen any resignations from Cabinet is witness that the Bill had full backing from Cabinet.
Let me address unwarranted fears that the appointment of the CJ [Chief Justice], DCJ [Deputy Chief Justice] and Judge President of the High Court shall erode the independence of the Judiciary and unsettle the principle of separation of powers. The Constitution has other adequate measures that guarantee Judiciary independence to advance and secure the integrity of the bench.
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