By Sharon Tawuya
Harare, (New Ziana)-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has assented to the Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill with the new law taking effect on Tuesday following its publication in the Government Gazette.
The new Act introduces several legal and structural adjustments to the governance framework of the country including the extension of the electoral cycle from five to seven years as well as the removal of direct Presidential elections and replacement with a Parliamentary system.
It was unanimously passed in both houses of Parliament, with the National Assembly last week approving final amendments that the Senate had made.
Among others, the new Act provides that the Attorney-General should meet the qualifications of a Supreme Court judge, and also that the President can appoint 10 more Senators, increasing the Senate from 80 to 90 members.
In line with the new Act, voter registration moves from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to the Registrar-General, while a new commission will preside over constituency and ward delimitation.
The Act also removes public interviews for judicial appointments while a Vice-President can act as President until Parliament elects a replacement within 30 days.
A new office of Judge President of the Supreme Court has also been created among other provisions.
New Ziana
