Zim needs new political culture anchored on patriotism
THE Constitutional Amendment (No 2) Act now provides for the appointment of seven ministers who are not in Parliament. Before the amendment, the President would appoint up to five ministers not drawn from the National Assembly or Senate.
If the political party selection criteria for Members of Parliament and Senate considered people's competencies, there would be sufficient MPs and Senators who could be appointed ministers without seeking those outside Parliament to be appointed.
The fact that the President has increased the number of people who can be appointed as ministers reveals that the quality of MPs is low. If the quality was right and political parties chose their candidates on merit, there would be a wider pool to choose from.
The President should have the freedom to even select his ministers and deputy ministers from among opposition MPs to make an inclusive government, leveraging on the capabilities among Zimbabwe's parliamentarians.
The line of thinking that claims that the ruling party should only select their members to be Cabinet ministers limits the participation of citizens from other political persuasions.
Parliament should, therefore, strengthen the laws governing the selection of electoral candidates such that a much-desired selection criteria is legislated such that the ones elected into office have the capacity to be appointed into Cabinet without the need to seek additional human capital from outside Parliament.
Technocrats should be encouraged to participate in our national politics.
Our national political culture should also be more conducive to enable all citizens to freely participate without fearing for their lives, family and investments.
While the addition of two more slots for non-parliamentarians appears to be good, the question is why should we amend the Constitution for that instead of merely amending the criteria for election into office for all elected offices in Zimbabwe in terms of the Electoral Act?
The Constitution should never be amended before it is fully implemented. Let Zimbabweans first experience the enacted 2013 Constitution in its totality without making amendments to suit individual needs. No one is more important than the other citizen. We must all be treated with dignity and with respect.