@BantuPower Pan African retweetledi
Since we are in the mood to Amend the Constitution, how about we amend the recall clause on Members of Parliament under Section 129 to allow the people of 🇿🇼 to recall their non-performing MPs from @ParliamentZim.
Right now, under the Constitution of Zimbabwe, MPs can effectively be recalled mainly through party mechanisms.
Here is a proposed draft clause: Right to Recall a Member of Parliament.
Right of Recall
Registered voters in a constituency shall have the right to recall their elected Member of Parliament before the expiry of their term of office, in accordance with this section.
Grounds for Recall
A recall may be initiated on any of the following grounds:
(a) Gross misconduct or abuse of office;
(b) Failure to perform parliamentary duties, including persistent absenteeism without reasonable cause;
(c) Violation of the Constitution or any law;
(d) Loss of confidence by the electorate, demonstrated in accordance with subsection (3).
Initiation of Recall Petition
A recall process shall be initiated by a petition signed by not less than [20%–30%] of registered voters in the constituency.
Verification and Referendum
(a) The electoral body shall verify the petition within a prescribed period;
(b) Upon a successful verification, a recall referendum shall be held within [60–90] days;
(c) The Member of Parliament shall be recalled if a majority of valid votes cast support the recall.
Limitations
(a) No recall petition shall be initiated within the first 12 months or last 12 months of a parliamentary term;
(b) A member of Parliament shall not be subjected to more than one recall process within a 12-month period.
Vacancy
Where a Member of Parliament is successfully recalled, the seat shall be declared vacant, and a by-election shall be held in accordance with electoral law.
As it stands there is an ongoing survey to measure people's perceptions on this, see below👇🏾
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…
English
