By Victor Fanuel
HARARE — Zanu PF’s Matabeleland South provincial disciplinary committee has suspended Insiza South MP Spare Sithole for three years after finding him guilty of “treachery” for twice missing parliamentary votes on Constitution Amendment No. 3 (CAB3).
The committee, chaired by Albert Nguluvhe, reportedly found Sithole guilty on five charges.
Sithole’s suspension is subject to ratification by the party’s national disciplinary committee and the Politburo before it takes effect.
Both Nguluvhe and Sithole declined to comment.
A party source said: “Sithole was found guilty and suspended from the party for three years.
The suspension must be ratified by the national disciplinary committee and Politburo.”
Nguluvhe is regarded as an ally of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and is related to Chiwenga’s wife, Miniyothabo.
Sithole missed crucial National Assembly votes on June 18 and June 30 that paved the way for the passage of Constitution Amendment No. 3.
During disciplinary proceedings, the committee reportedly heard that although Sithole had cited illness on one of the voting days, he was instead in his constituency making a donation.
The war veteran, who owns a security company and has interests in gold mining, was not the only Zanu PF legislator to miss the votes.
However, the overwhelming majority of the party’s MPs backed the constitutional amendments despite reports of internal resistance.
ICT Minister and Chikomba West MP Tatenda Mavetera also missed the first vote but reportedly apologised to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, saying she arrived after voting had closed. She later voted in favour of the Bill on June 30.
The disciplinary action against Sithole is likely to fuel speculation of a wider crackdown on Zanu PF members who opposed or failed to support the constitutional amendments.
Now law after receiving Mnangagwa’s assent, Constitution Amendment No. 3 extends the terms of the President, Parliament and local authorities from five to seven years, effectively postponing the next harmonised elections from 2028 to 2030.
The amendment also changes the method of electing future presidents from a direct popular vote to election by Parliament, expands presidential powers over senior judicial appointments, establishes a new delimitation commission and transfers voter registration functions from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to the Registrar General.
Parliament, is however, facing multiple legal challenges.
Former Binga North MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda has approached the Constitutional Court, arguing that extending the terms of incumbent office bearers breaches Section 328(7) of the Constitution.
In a separate application, National Constitutional Assembly member Vhurande Mahlupeko is seeking to have the entire Act declared invalid, arguing Parliament violated Section 328(3) by introducing amendments that were not included in the Bill published for public scrutiny.
