By Takunda Mandura

Zimbabweans have become disillusioned due to the lack of progress on the alignment of laws with the constitution in the country. As a result of this, various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have put their heads together to submit a petition   to the Parliament of Zimbabwe advocating for the alignment of local government laws with the constitution.

The petition was signed by Harare Residence Trust (HRT), Chitungwiza Residents Trust (CHITREST), Zimbabwe Untied Residents Association (ZURA) and Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ).

Speaking at the press conference held at Media Centre, CCDZ member Phillip Pasirayi expressed his discontent with the slow pace  of alignment of local government laws to the new constitution.

“It is now close to three years the local government laws have not been aligned to the Constitution of Zimbabwe which was approved in 2013 . Civil society has expressed its discontentment over lack of progress in the alignment of local government laws since the approval of the Constitution in Zimbabwe in 2013.”

The Constitution of Zimbabwe is very clear that any act of parliament or any other law that is not in line with the constitution  should be deemed null and void.

He went on to express his displeasure on the lack  progress within the government as it is hiding behind the finger.

“You cannot sacrifice democracy on the basis that you say that there is no money and we know that government in endowed with vast resources, financial and/or human” he said.

The petition demanded that parliament force the executive arm of government to implement the provisions of the constitution immediately.