ZANU PF Mulls Scraping 'Running Mate' Clause Ahead Of 2023 Elections
The ruling ZANU PF party is considering scrapping a clause in the Constitution set to come into effect in the 2023 general elections, that makes the post of Vice-President(s) elective.
The party is wary of the clause which it calls an American concept (though it is practised in many African countries) which may lead to two centres of power.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce had this to say:
We need to initiate a debate on it; we need to ask ourselves whether we need such a provision.
We are looking at and engaging the public and debating about whether it is necessary; but in my opinion, I do not think it is necessary. You do not want to create two centres of power; that is something we need to avoid at all costs.
Naturally, the head of the executive is the President; what then does it mean when we have three people who are elected by the masses into the executive, who will wield more power? It is another issue that needs debate, and I think we need to take it out.
The clause is outlined in section 92 of the Constitution. It reads, “The President and the Vice-President(s) are directly elected jointly by registered voters throughout Zimbabwe, and the procedure for their election is as prescribed in the Electoral Law.”
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