Zimbabwe Parliament Changes Constitution, Extends Mugabe Powers

(Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwean lawmakers voted to pass changes to the constitution that will allow President Robert Mugabe to appoint the nation’s chief justice and deputy chief justice without consulting parliament or the justice ministry.

The amendment to the southern African nation’s highest law is the first since Zimbabwe’s political parties agreed to a new constitution in 2013. The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front holds more than two thirds of the 270 seats in parliament and 182 lawmakers voted in favor of the change. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change, which voted against the proposal, had asked for a secret ballot, which was denied by Speaker Jacob Mudenda.

Under the 2013 constitution, the president could only appoint a chief justice on advice after a series of interviews.

--With assistance from Brian Latham

To contact the reporters on this story: Desmond Kumbuka in Johannesburg at dkumbuka@bloomberg.net, Godfrey Marawanyika in Harare at gmarawanyika@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Antony Sguazzin at asguazzin@bloomberg.net, Rene Vollgraaff, Andre Janse van Vuuren