A Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MP sparked fury among ZANU-PF lawmakers on Wednesday after warning that a proposed constitutional amendment would downgrade the military to the level of Fawecett, a private security firm.
The row broke out during a parliamentary debate on the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill.
Innocent Zvaipa, the MP for Zengeza West, told the National Assembly that Clause 16 of the bill, which alters the duties of the armed forces, will strip the military of its independent role as a guardian of the constitution.
He argued that replacing the phrase “and to uphold this constitution” with “in accordance with the constitution” in Section 212 would effectively reduce the national army to the status of Fawcett Security.
“This bill has come at the wrong time. It has come to divide people in this country. It has come to divide even ZANU-PF members. It has also divided our opposition members,” Zvaipa said.
Despite furious interjections from ZANU-PF MPs demanding he retract the claim that the ruling party was divided, Zvaipa refused to back down.
“When I’m saying the bill is dividing us, I mean there is no longer unity. You see what the ruling party is doing and what I’m doing? That means we are in dispute because of this bill,” he said.
“The war veterans who fought for the country are no longer getting along because of this bill.”
Zvaipa then pointed to the November 2017 military intervention that ended Robert Mugabe’s rule.
“In 2017, when things were not going well in this country, the army assisted us in correcting it,” he said.
“The army is now being withdrawn so that it comes in as a security, as a Fawcett.”
Temporary Speaker Mercy Mugomo intervened immediately, ordering Zvaipa to sit down before handing over to Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who rose to his feet in anger.
“I think that if people rise to contribute, they must say things that are there, not things that are from their mind or to show their foolishness. Nothing in the bill says the army is now Fawcett. The Honourable Member must withdraw that statement,” Ziyambi said.
Zvaipa refused to back down, turning his response on the minister: “You have been saying that I’m a fool; what does a fool know? You want a foolish man to withdraw?”
Last week, Ziyambi defended the amendment, arguing that it would strengthen rather than weaken civil-military relations, arguing that the original phrasing was the real anomaly.
“Either the defence forces are subject to the constitution, or they are a core equal guardian of it, standing alongside the elected president, the elected parliament and the courts,” Ziyambi said.
“If they are subject to the constitution, as in every constitutional democracy, they must be in accordance with the constitution.”
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