Contextual Assessment
Today the parliament of Zimbabwe was conducting its first public hearing on constitution amendment Bill Number 2 in Masvingo Province at Chivi Growth Point.
Despite harsh weather conditions which were present today hundreds of people attended the hearing. Honorable Dexter Nduna who was chairing the committee was not giving participants enough time to submit their views, only 3 minutes were allowed and 8 people to speak per each group of 50. Citizens were submitting their views in groups of 50. Three groups participated and in the third group all remaining citizens present who were over 50 were allowed to enter the room.
Citizens queued for long hours to enter the hall and some returned home before submitting their views due to light showers around midday.
Participants rejected the amendments citing that some of the amendments gave more powers to the president. The participants alluded that the government should focus on aligning the constitution than amend it. A single participant agreed on the issue of running mates and the introduction of a quota system for the appointment of 10 youths into the national assembly.
Updates 17 June 2020
Masvingo Province recorded 50 confirmed cases up to date. Ten cases tested positive for Covid-19 today, all are returnees from South Africa. The cumulative number of tests done to date is 60 585 (35 294 RDT and 25 291 PCR). 401 is the total number of confirmed cases, recovered 63, active cases 334 and 4 deaths. (SOURCE: Ministry of Health and Child Care).
Source: Masvingo Centre for Research and Community Development
