Top Lawyer Slams Justice Minister Over Controversial Bill, Cites Political Expediency

Harare lawyer Jacqueline Sande-Kamanga has sharply criticized Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, accusing him of pushing the controversial Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill (CAB3) for personal political gain and at the expense of constitutional principles.

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He sponsored a bill riddled with mistakes and impracticalities. He rushed his ill-thought out, impractical, poorly drafted piece of legislation through Parliament for political expediency, sacrificing constitutionalism and good governance in the process.

Sande-Kamanga, writing on X, described the bill as "riddled with mistakes and impracticalities." She asserted that Ziyambi "rushed his ill-thought out, impractical, poorly drafted piece of legislation through Parliament for political expediency, sacrificing constitutionalism and good governance in the process."

The senior legal practitioner warned that the manner in which CAB3 was fast-tracked through Parliament sets a dangerous precedent, potentially eroding Zimbabwe's democratic gains. She expressed concern that the bill could lead the nation "down the democratic drain into the gutter of governance, into the abyss of authoritarian rule and into the pits of tyranny."

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Taking an entire nation down the democratic drain into the gutter of governance, into the abyss of authoritarian rule and into the pits of tyranny.

Sande-Kamanga questioned the minister's motives, labeling him "a profoundly self-serving individual" and concluding, "An example of a statesman not!" Ziyambi, who lost his parliamentary seat in previous elections, is reportedly seeking a ministerial and senatorial post if CAB3 is enacted.

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A profoundly self-serving individual.

CAB3 proposes changes to judicial appointments and other governance structures. It has faced widespread criticism from civil society, opposition parties, and legal experts who believe it undermines judicial independence. The bill also aims to extend the terms of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Parliament, and local councils beyond their current expiration in 2028. Minister Ziyambi has previously defended the bill, stating it aligns the Constitution with practical governance realities.

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An example of a statesman not!