Biti to challenge Constitution Amendment Number 1 Bill, argues proposed law was not passed by a two-thirds

In an interview with NewsDay, People’s Democratic Party leader and lawyer Tendai Biti confirmed that he is preparing to challenge Constitution Amendment Number 1 with the application expected to be filed next week. He argues that the proposed law was passed without two thirds as required by the Constitution.

Said Biti:

I am working on the papers to challenge the amendment. The Bill was passed without the requisite numbers. The framing is similar, we are certain they did not have the numbers.

Legal watchdog, Veritas also notes some discrepancies and said for the Bill to be passed by the Senate it needed 54 affirmative votes and not 53 who voted yes. Constitutional Amendment Number 1 seeks to give the President unfettered powers in selecting and appointing the Deputy Chief Justice, Chief Justice and Judge President.

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