Section 149: Right to petition Parliament
Constitution of Zimbabwe
(1) Every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has a right to petition Parliament to consider any matter within its authority, including the enactment, amendment or repeal of legislation.
(2) The manner in which petitions are to be presented to Parliament, and the action that Parliament is to take on presentation of a petition, must be prescribed in Standing Orders.
Insight: Right to Petition Parliament
This constitutional provision empowers both citizens and permanent residents with a direct channel to influence legislative processes. It's a crucial democratic mechanism that allows individuals to formally request Parliament to address issues they believe require attention, without needing to work through elected representatives. The reference to Standing Orders in subsection 2 means that while the right is guaranteed, the specific procedures for submitting petitions and how Parliament must respond to them are detailed in Parliament's internal rules rather than in the Constitution itself.