(NEWZIMBABWE) Mangwana rejects 'Kariba Draft'

Mangwana rejects 'Kariba Draft'
by Lindie Whiz
29/06/2009 00:00:00

THE parliamentary select committee spearheading the drafting of a new constitution has poured cold water on President Mugabe’s declaration that the Kariba Draft would be the basis for a new constitution.

The committee’s co-chairperson, Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana (Zanu PF) told more than 5,000 people gathered at Bulawayo’s Large City Hall last Saturday that his committee was drafting a “fresh, people-driven constitution” and would not entertain any “fixed positions”.

He was speaking during a consultative meeting held simultaneously with similar meetings in Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands provinces. Meetings in other provinces were held last week.

Mugabe declared that the Kariba Draft, drawn up by lawyers from his Zanu PF party and the two MDC formations in 2007, would be the basis for the new constitution, adding that there was no need to waste time and money going to villages to seek people’s views on the new constitution.

Mangwana drew deafening applause when he told the crowd - without making references to Mugabe’s pronouncements – that anything else was that particular individual’s opinion and not the position of the committee, tasked with leading the writing of a new constitution.

Mangwana said: “All of us in the select committee have thrown away our party political affiliation and we are now like a football team dubbed Zimbabwe United. We stand representing the interests of our parties, but doing the wishes of the people of Zimbabwe.

“Even we as MPs have no say, but are mere facilitators for you to air your views. We want to write a constitution that will stand the test of time, relevant for the next 200 years … I am not good at flattering and I don’t intend flattering anyone.”

None of the members of the select committee mentioned the so-called Kariba Draft during the absorbing three-hour consultative meeting.

Asked what would happen if the draft constitution failed at the referendum, Mangwana said: “I don’t want to think about failure because failure is not an option. We will not do anything that will cause this constitution to fail. We will take all your views.

“Zimbabwe has a very bad history as far as referendums are concerned. Not a single referendum has been approved. From 1961 there was a referendum and it failed. In 1971 there was a referendum and there was a “no” vote. You know the Pearce Commission. Then in 1999 there was a referendum won by the “no” vote.

“In all those referendums, there was one thing that made them fail. The draft was not taken back to people for discussion before being put to referendum. We do not expect this one to fail. It would be a tragedy of the worst order. Let us learn from 1999. We have gone for 10 years since then without a proper constitution. It will not fail.”

Senator Gladis Dube-Gombami also emphasized that the committee would not compromise the people’s views.

“The committee wishes to assure the people that there are no fixed positions in this process. You chose us to represent you. We will make sure your views are properly captured and reflected in the proposed constitution. All stakeholders have got the right to make their submissions.”

Senator Tambudzani Mohadi of Zanu PF also echoed the same sentiment, vowing that the committee would gather views for fresh constitution.