Harare, Aug 12, 2023 – H. E. Senator Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira, the current President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), has achieved an unopposed victory in the election for Deputy President of the Zimbabwe National Council of Chiefs. The election, overseen by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in Harare, holds constitutional implications that intricately tie into Charumbira’s parliamentary journey.
Chief Charumbira’s new role automatically designates him as a Senator, invoking the power of Section 120.1(c) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. This provision mandates that the President and Deputy President of the Chief’s Council are bestowed with membership in the Senate of Zimbabwe. This constitutional nuance maintains its influence even as Zimbabwe’s Parliament gears up for dissolution on the midnight of August 23, 2023.
The composition of the Zimbabwe Senate includes 80 members, out of which 18 originate from the National Council of Chiefs. The remaining members secure their positions through the general election, facilitated by various political parties. With Chief Charumbira’s emergence, the remaining 16 seats become occupied by representatives from the country’s nonmetropolitan provinces.
This political juncture brings forth significant consequences. Chief Charumbira is poised to retain his parliamentary seat despite the impending dissolution of Parliament. The crucial factor here lies in the Chief’s Council election, which occurred prior to the dissolution, securing his continuity. Additionally, his dual role maintains his status as a “Returning Member” of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP).
Navigating the intricacies of parliamentary rules and regulations, Chief Charumbira faces no hindrances in carrying out his duties as the President of the Pan-African Parliament. This unfettered continuation is reinforced by the amended Rules of Procedure of the Pan-African Parliament, specifically Rule 16(15), which asserts that a member of the Bureau remains empowered to fulfill their functions following re-election or re-designation by their National Parliament or other deliberative organ.
This scenario finds resonance in the recent experience of Hon. Professor Massouda Mohamed Laghdaf (Mrs.), the First Vice President of PAP representing the Northern Region. After a successful re-election and re-designation by the Mauritanian Parliament, Laghdaf resumed her office seamlessly in adherence to the provisions outlined in the PAP Rules of Procedure.
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