Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
MORE than 300 000 submissions have been received by Parliament following the closure of the 90-day public consultation period on the Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, marking one of the largest public participation exercises in Zimbabwe’s legislative history.
The consultation window officially closed at midnight on Monday, with Parliament now moving to the next phase of analysing submissions gathered through public hearings, written submissions and electronic platforms.
Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda exclusively told ZBC News that the response from citizens had been overwhelming, reflecting growing public engagement in legislative processes.
“The participation from the public has been very overwhelming. We have never received submissions like this, and we are very grateful to the citizens of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Mr Chokuda said Parliament had already started processing submissions received during public hearings and through hard-copy correspondence, while attention was now shifting to last-minute submissions sent electronically.
“We begin the process now of going through the submissions one by one and analysing the content coming from the public because that is the whole idea of the 90 days,” he said.
He said parliamentary committees would now categorise and consolidate the submissions before compiling a report to be presented during the Bill’s second reading stage in Parliament.
“The committees will be sitting to look at those submissions and categorise them in terms of how they are coming from the public. Thereafter, they will finalise the consolidation of the submissions to come up with the report that will then be presented at the second reading stage of the Bill,” said Mr Chokuda.
Under parliamentary procedure, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi is expected to formally present the Bill for first reading following the expiry of the consultation period.
Mr Chokuda explained that the first reading only involves the formal introduction of the Bill, while substantive debate will begin during the second reading stage.
“The substantive debate happens at second reading stage, where the minister will go into details in terms of motivating the Bill and explaining it to Members of Parliament,” he said.
He added that the chairperson of the relevant parliamentary committee would also table findings and recommendations arising from public consultations before legislators debate the proposed amendments.
Mr Chokuda further clarified that, unlike ordinary legislation, Constitutional Amendment Bills are not referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee after first reading.
“It will then go straight to the second reading at the time the Minister of Justice deems it appropriate after consulting to see that the committee is now ready to present its report,” he said.
The Clerk of Parliament also clarified his administrative role in the process amid confusion in some public commentary.
“It is not the responsibility of the Clerk of Parliament to analyse the contents of the submissions. Mine is to facilitate consultation, receive the input and share it with the relevant committee. It is Members of Parliament who have the legislative mandate to consider the submissions,” he said.
The Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill is expected to proceed through committee stage and third reading before being transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
